The Demonic Supreme Sword Novel - Chapter 82

Chapter 82
“Exactly what price did you just quote?”

Na Ham interrogated the man, his expression a mask of pure skepticism.

“The sum is ten thousand nyang in gold.”

In stark contrast to Na Ham’s shock, Yi Ja-gon replied with a casual indifference, as if he were discussing the price of a common meal rather than a fortune.

“That figure is beyond absurd.”

Upon hearing Na Ham’s assessment, Yi Ja-gon’s demeanor shifted into one of grave seriousness.

“Absurd? This is a fair valuation reached through meticulous calculation. You are well aware of the unparalleled rarity of the item we have secured for this transaction.”

“Rarity has its boundaries. Ten thousand nyang! You could purchase an entire fortified city with that amount of wealth.”

The urge to upend the furniture was strong, but Na Ham maintained his composure through sheer force of will to keep the discussion alive.

“If you totaled every single trade occurring on this island at this very moment, you wouldn’t even hit ten thousand—honestly, not even a thousand nyang.”

“Hahaha! Whether those small-time deals amount to a thousand or a hundred is irrelevant to the value of this specific agreement.”

“That is precisely why your demand is outrageous. Furthermore, we are your only viable buyers. Perhaps you haven’t been informed of the fate that befell Cheongmun and Namsabang?”

Na Ham let a dark implication hang in the air, his tone laced with a hidden threat. However, Yi Ja-gon, who had clawed his way out of the slave pits to lead the Hongik Merchant Group as its chief steward, was not easily intimidated.

“I was told they were utterly annihilated. Had they remained in the picture, I would have held out for fifteen thousand nyang at the very least. Truly a pity they’re gone. Hahaha!”

“…….”

Na Ham simply stared, his face questioning the very sanity of the man before him.

“Shall we pause? It seems you require a moment to digest the terms.”

Without seeking Na Ham’s agreement, Yi Ja-gon unilaterally suspended the meeting and walked away. The lack of respect was palpable, yet Na Ham remained motionless. With Gu Cheon-myeong observing the proceedings, he could only swallow his fury and wait.

The two parties reconvened after an hour had passed.

“Have you reached a conclusion? The daylight is fading, and I cannot extend this window much further.”

Yi Ja-gon resumed his seat, a mocking smirk playing on his lips.

As Na Ham, reaching his breaking point, moved to sit across from him, Gu Cheon-myeong placed a firm hand on his shoulder.

“Step aside, Captain. I shall take the lead from here.”

Na Ham gave a small start but offered no resistance, retreating into a subordinate position.

The instant Gu Cheon-myeong moved to the forefront, Yi Ja-gon’s smirk vanished.

*This does not look like a standard chain of command. To treat the leader of the Red Blood Squad like a common footman… it confirms what the deputy leader suspected; this youth is far from ordinary.*

Earlier, Yu Wol had cautioned him that the true power within the Red Blood Squad might not be the man bearing the title of “Captain,” but this younger figure.

Yi Ja-gon had initially brushed the warning aside—having only seen the Red Blood Squad Captain from a distance once before—but now the reality was undeniable.

*Have they been using a puppet leader? If so, is this youth the actual master of the Red Blood Squad?*

The questions swirled in his mind, unanswered.

While Yi Ja-gon struggled to recalibrate his approach, Yu Wol was observing Gu Cheon-myeong with intense focus.

Yu Wol had left the talking to Yi Ja-gon while he watched from the periphery, but his attention had been fixed on Gu Cheon-myeong since the negotiations first faltered.

When the talks hit a wall, the guards flanking Gu Cheon-myeong—men who already looked formidable—suddenly projected a suffocating aura. It was a bloodlust so concentrated that even Yu Wol felt a chill of genuine alarm.

Then, just as quickly, that murderous pressure dissolved, vanishing as if it were a mere hallucination. Yu Wol had caught the subtle signal: Gu Cheon-myeong had given his men a simple, wordless nod.

Yu Wol’s brow furrowed as he watched the young man.

*I had my suspicions, but this confirms it. And then there is that one…*

Yu Wol’s eyes drifted past the primary guards to Gu Jong, who was leaning back with an air of relaxed boredom.

The older guards seemed dangerous enough, but the energy humming beneath Gu Jong’s skin was in a different league entirely. Even Gu Cheon-myeong, who was now allowing his own heavy presence to weigh on the room, felt like a mountain of pressure.

“Your price was ten thousand nyang of gold?”

Gu Cheon-myeong spoke.

“T-that is correct.”

Yi Ja-gon tried to keep smiling, but beads of sweat were tracing paths down his forehead. His discomfort was obvious to everyone.

“I offer five thousand nyang.”

“W-we cannot accept such a loss.”

“There are lives hanging in the balance here. I suggest you weigh your next words with extreme care.”

The icy detachment in Gu Cheon-myeong’s voice sent a wave of dread through the steward, yet Yi Ja-gon continued to shake his head in desperation.

“We simply cannot release the asset at that price.”

Hearing this, Gu Cheon-myeong turned his gaze away from the steward and looked directly at Yu Wol.

“Is this man truly empowered to speak for you? I do not make idle threats.”

A heavy sigh escaped Yu Wol.

*I underestimated the situation. If I intended to probe the enemy, I should have expected them to do the same to me.*

Realizing his initial strategy had been too casual, Yu Wol stepped forward and touched Yi Ja-gon’s shoulder.

“Steward, you may step back. I will conclude this.”

“A-as you wish.”

Though his pride might have protested, Yi Ja-gon’s instincts forced him to move. He knew he was mentally paralyzed under the weight of Gu Cheon-myeong’s aura.

“I am Yu Wol, the deputy leader of the Hongik Merchant Group.”

A thin smile touched Gu Cheon-myeong’s mouth at the introduction. He had forced their hand, and now it was time for mutual transparency.

“I am Gu Cheon-myeong… of the Red Dragon Gang.”

He had briefly weighed the benefits of staying behind the Red Blood Squad name, but he cast the lie aside and spoke the truth. It was a gamble, but if it gave him the upper hand in the trade, he was willing to play it.

“The Red Dragon Gang? Surely you don’t mean…”

Yu Wol’s voice cracked slightly.

“I mean exactly what you suspect.”

“It cannot be!”

Yu Wol’s eyes grew wide with alarm.

“You understand the gravity of me revealing my true colors. Choose your path wisely.”

Sensing he had completely dominated the room, Gu Cheon-myeong settled back into his chair with a confident grin.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

“Chongmyeong Island is just ahead.”

Man Chu, perched atop Cheol Woo’s back, pointed toward the horizon and yelled.

“Do you see the masts? The human traffickers are there in force.”

“My thanks. The information from the Beggar Union has proven impeccable.”

Sima Geon expressed his genuine gratitude for the constant stream of intelligence as they followed Man Chu’s lead.

“Hmph, no thanks to the moron who almost lost the scent.”

Cheol Woo muttered as he lowered Man Chu to the ground.

“Hey! Drop it already. Mistakes happen. We found the correct path and caught up, didn’t we?”

Brain Lightning’s face turned crimson as he snapped back.

“‘Caught up’? We burned hours chasing a phantom decoy. If the Beggar Union hadn’t spotted them at Chongmyeong Island, we’d be lost. This failure belongs to you. So, get used to the ‘moron’ title for a bit.”

Despite the harsh words, Brain Lightning didn’t retaliate further, knowing from long experience that arguing with Cheol Woo was a losing battle.

“You should retreat now. We will take it from here,” Sima Geon advised Man Chu.

“Not a chance. We’ve come this far—I’m seeing this through to the end.”

Man Chu shook his head stubbornly and began jogging toward Chongmyeong Island.

“Everyone, move! The signal indicates the Beggar Union has a vessel waiting for us.”

Fearful they might force him to stay behind, Man Chu sped up like a startled rabbit.

“Are we really letting him tag along?” Ha Hu-yeon asked, concerned.

“He’s at the age for chasing excitement. Let him go. What harm can come to him while we’re standing right here?”

Cheol Woo laughed and threw an arm over Ha Hu-yeon’s shoulder.

“If it bothers you, you can be his guardian.”

Ha Hu-yeon gracefully sidestepped out of the embrace.

“Hardly. I don’t have the patience for that.”

He was confident in his martial prowess, but his focus was entirely on exacting retribution for Sima Jin’s abduction; he had no interest in being a babysitter.

“Then you, moron, you’re on child-watch.”

“…….”

Brain Lightning remained silent, but Cheol Woo simply turned away, treating the matter as settled.

“Leader, what is our approach?”

Sima Geon paused for a moment of reflection before answering.

“There is no reason to show mercy to filth like slave traders. However, the safe recovery of Jin-a is our absolute priority.”

“Understood. I’m hoping to run into some of the scum who sold me into bondage. That would be a nice bonus.”

Cheol Woo struck his palms together, a predatory smile on his face.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

“An acceptable arrangement.”

Gu Cheon-myeong said, looking pleased.

The suffocating tension that had gripped the room only minutes ago had entirely evaporated.

He had ultimately agreed to pay six thousand nyang—one thousand more than his initial low-ball offer—but his satisfaction was evident.

“No need for formal thanks. You allowed us to keep our dignity.”

Yu Wol, who had been terrified that pushing too hard would lead to a violent fallout, felt a sense of relief at the extra thousand nyang.

While Yu Wol felt they had reached a good compromise, Yi Ja-gon was drowning in regret. The moment the affiliation shifted from Red Blood Squad to the legendary Red Dragon Gang, he realized they could have likely squeezed out the full ten thousand.

*The issue is we lack the muscle to defend the gold.*

In a scenario where a failed deal could lead to a total massacre and the theft of the goods, pushing too hard was a death sentence.

*Damn it! Only six thousand for a prize like this?!*

The frustration gnawed at him. Even though six thousand gold nyang for a single girl was an astronomical sum, it felt like he was letting a miracle slip through his fingers for a pittance.

“You’re the steward, yes? You don’t look particularly happy with this trade.”

Gu Cheon-myeong directed the question at Yi Ja-gon. It was a clear taunt, but Yi Ja-gon didn’t dare react while under that piercing stare.

“N-no, not at all. I am perfectly content. Truly.”

Yu Wol offered a pained smile as he watched the steward frantically deny his dissatisfaction.

In the Hongik Merchant Group, few were as bold as Yi Ja-gon, yet even he was acting out of primal fear. The reputation of the Red Dragon Gang was simply that powerful.

*Perhaps it isn’t just the name, but the raw violence he senses beneath their skin.*

Yu Wol suspected that the intuitive steward had sensed the sheer lethality of Gu Cheon-myeong, Gu Jong, and their companions, just as he had.

“The terms are set. Let us finalize the exchange.”

With a nod from Gu Cheon-myeong, the followers of Na Ham brought forward several heavy chests.

“Inspect them.”

Yi Ja-gon stepped forward and opened the lids. They were packed with shimmering gold bars and various denominations of gold certificates.

“We pulled what liquidity we could from Black Bone Castle, but we were short on physical bullion. These certificates will cover the remaining balance.”

As Gu Cheon-myeong spoke, Na Ham presented a stack of papers.

“These were issued by the Central Battlefield.”

“Central Battlefield notes? They are as good as gold.”

Despite his words, Yi Ja-gon checked every single certificate for signs of forgery with painstaking care.

After a thorough review, Yi Ja-gon gave Yu Wol a short nod. Simultaneously, a bright signal flare was launched into the sky.

“Your acquisition will be here momentarily.”

Yi Ja-gon signaled for his porters to secure the chests of gold.

Shortly after, laborers from the Hongik Merchant Group arrived carrying a covered palanquin. At the sight of it, Gu Cheon-myeong lost some of his cool, shifting restlessly in his seat. Yi Ja-gon shot Yu Wol a look of bitter resentment.

*See? We could have easily demanded more.*

Yu Wol looked away, ignoring the steward’s eyes.

“Hurry, open it up.”

Gu Cheon-myeong’s voice trembled with anticipation as he watched his men take possession of the palanquin.

When the curtains were pulled back, they revealed Sima Jin, unconscious and slumped against the interior.

“We have kept her under sedation to ensure the ‘merchandise’ remains in peak condition. Please, verify for yourself.”

Gu Cheon-myeong looked at her with a satisfied smile.

“She appears well. If her condition were obvious, it would be simple to judge, but if she has been handled as agreed, only a master of the medical arts could tell for sure. We simply trust that the Hongik Merchant Group isn’t foolish enough to play us.”

The threat hidden within the calm statement caused the merchant porters to flinch. Only Yu Wol and Yi Ja-gon remained outwardly calm.

“We would have to be suicidal to try and swindle the Red Dragon Gang. You have nothing to fear.”

Yi Ja-gon’s reply prompted a booming laugh from Gu Cheon-myeong.

“Hahaha! I didn’t mean to imply that. Regardless, this was a successful trade. If fate permits, we shall do business again.”

With Sima Jin in his custody—the potential savior for his sister’s illness—Gu Cheon-myeong’s only desire was to return home immediately. He offered Yu Wol a shallow bow of respect.

“Indeed, a fine deal. I wish you a safe voy—”

Yu Wol’s farewell was severed by a sudden, piercing scream from outside the meeting area.

Gu Cheon-myeong’s eyes instantly sharpened, darting toward Yu Wol and Yi Ja-gon with suspicion of a trap.

“This has nothing to do with our group. We have no motive for such an act.”

Yu Wol shook his head vehemently. The memory of a mysterious letter he’d received before reaching Suzhou crossed his mind, but he kept his expression neutral.

In that moment, Yu Wol and Gwan Seung exchanged a knowing look.

*[Are these the pursuers from the Ha Hu Clan?]*

*[I cannot be certain.]*

Gu Cheon-myeong noticed the silent communication but didn’t press them.

“It seems predators are attracted to valuable cargo. Do you have any ideas who might be at our gates?”

Yu Wol paused, then spoke with a tone of apology.

“We were unaware at the start, but a member of the Ha Hu Clan was injured during the acquisition of the asset. We heard rumors they were in pursuit, but since we encountered no resistance on the journey here, we couldn’t be sure.”

“The Ha Hu Clan?”

Gu Cheon-myeong’s confident mask slipped for a moment.

If the full strength of his main house were here, there would be no threat. But on Chongmyeong Island, he only had the Red Blood Squad and seven high-level guards. That was more than enough to slaughter slave traders, but it was dangerously thin for a confrontation with a major righteous sect.

Gu Cheon-myeong looked around.

The mere mention of the Ha Hu Clan had sent the observing traffickers into a state of hysteria. Many were already packing to flee. Even the pirates of Black Bone Castle, usually bold, were shifting uncomfortably.

“There is no cause for alarm.”

A steady, tranquil voice spoke from behind him. The tension drained from Gu Cheon-myeong’s face instantly. He had momentarily forgotten that one of the three greatest masters of the Red Blood Hall was standing right there.

“Haha! I completely forgot Uncle was with us.”

Gu Cheon-myeong let out a sheepish laugh, his anxiety replaced by absolute confidence.