Episode 115: The Sect of Jeomchang
The martial world of Zhongyuan is divided into north and south by the Yangtze River. While this might seem like a mere geographical distinction, the reality is that there’s a significant difference between the regions north and south of the river.
Most of the renowned sects and clans that people recognize are located north of the Yangtze. In particular, the areas around Shaanxi and Henan provinces are densely packed with these powerful sects, followed by Sichuan, Anhui, and Hubei provinces.
In contrast, there are only two major sects and clans south of the Yangtze: the Jeomchang Sect in the southwestern corner of Yunnan Province, and the Namgung Clan in Anhui Province. However, it’s more accurate to say they are adjacent to the Yangtze rather than strictly south of it.
This doesn’t mean the area south of the Yangtze is a no-man’s land. Various sects, both righteous and unorthodox, have established themselves there, living in a constant state of rivalry.
Tang Mujin and his companions found themselves in Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province, quite a distance south of the Yangtze. Upon arriving in the city, they headed straight for an inn without hesitation. Inns are not only places to eat but also excellent spots to gather information in unfamiliar territories.
After a hearty meal, Tang Mujin casually asked a man dining nearby, “Excuse me, could I ask you something?”
“Sure, what is it?”
“Are there any notable martial families or sects in Jiujiang?”
The man replied sheepishly, “Well, I’m not from around here, so I’m not entirely sure. But from what I’ve heard, the most famous sect here is the Jeoyang Sect.”
“The Jeoyang Sect?”
“Yes, people speak well of them, and their building looks quite impressive.”
As soon as the name Jeoyang Sect was mentioned, Namgung Myung, sitting nearby, shook his head vigorously. Tang Mujin lowered his voice and whispered, “What’s wrong?”
“The Jeoyang Sect has ties with the Namgung Clan. Someone might recognize me.”
A mischievous thought crossed Tang Mujin’s mind—wouldn’t it be interesting if they did? But before he could persuade Namgung Myung with various reasons, a young man at another table scoffed and joined the conversation.
“Jeoyang Sect? You must be an outsider to think that. The Yu Family Manor is far more substantial.”
“The Yu Family Manor?”
“Yes, the Yu Escort Agency’s Yu Family Manor. Haven’t you heard of it?”
Tang Mujin felt a twinge of disappointment. Escort agencies are usually mediocre at best, with third-rate fighters aplenty, a few second-rate ones, and the occasional first-rate expert. Such skills wouldn’t be enough to shield them from the dangers they faced.
“You don’t seem to believe me. Don’t underestimate the Yu Family Manor just because they run an escort agency. Recently, a Yu escort beat a Jeoyang Sect instructor soundly.”
“Is that true?”
An instructor from a mid-tier sect would be at least second-rate. For a mere escort to defeat such a person was hard to fathom, even if the line between second and third-rate was sometimes blurred.
The young man, pleased with Tang Mujin’s reaction, continued with a satisfied expression. “Absolutely! The Yu Escort Agency isn’t your average escort service. They only take on high-paying jobs. They’re quite confident in their abilities.”
That level of confidence could be useful. Tang Mujin glanced at his companions, and Namgung Myung nodded vigorously. It seemed he was desperate to avoid the Jeoyang Sect, leaving the Yu Family Manor as their only option.
Meanwhile, Dan Seol-young and Chu Sam, as usual, had no particular opinion.
With two in favor and two abstaining, the group decided to head to the Yu Family Manor.
The four arrived at the outskirts of Jiujiang, where the Yu Family Manor was located. The manor was spacious but appeared somewhat shabby. The walls were poorly constructed, and the buildings beyond them looked equally run-down.
The roof tiles were missing in patches, like a child’s comb with missing teeth.
With no one guarding the entrance, they walked straight into the manor, observing their surroundings. It seemed a delivery had just arrived, as people were bustling about, unloading and organizing goods. Yet, something about the scene felt off.
“Don’t the escorts seem unusually skilled?”
“Indeed, this isn’t your typical escort agency. Can we even call it that?”
In most escort agencies, the escorts are third-rate, and some don’t even reach that level, yet still carry a sword and call themselves escorts.
But the escorts at the Yu Family Manor were different. They were at least second-rate, with many appearing to be first-rate or better.
There was no roughness typical of unorthodox fighters or those who practiced demonic arts. Instead, their demeanor was polished and refined, suggesting they had learned orthodox martial arts.
Sensing Tang Mujin and Namgung Myung’s unease, Dan Seol-young clung to Tang Mujin’s sleeve, seeking reassurance. He gently patted her shoulder to calm her.
Soon, a middle-aged man approached them, having noticed their presence. Namgung Myung assessed him with a hint of arrogance.
“He’s quite accomplished.”
Though he seemed not yet forty, his gait and aura suggested he had surpassed the pinnacle of martial arts.
The man, too, seemed to gauge their level. His eyes gleamed with interest as he looked at Tang Mujin and Namgung Myung.
“Impressive young heroes have come to visit. I am Yu Jin-gwang, the head of the Yu Family Manor. What brings you here?”
“We were hoping to stay as guests.”
“Guests, you say? With skills like yours, I suspect you’ve gotten entangled in some troublesome matters. Am I right?”
Unfortunately, the head of the Yu Family Manor was quick to catch on. Realizing they had issues, he would likely ask them to leave.
However, Yu Jin-gwang surprised them with an unexpected offer.
“But, if you can pay well enough, we can accommodate you as guests.”
Tang Mujin and his companions exchanged puzzled looks.
Typically, guests receive room and board in exchange for helping out with minor tasks, sometimes earning a small stipend.
Yet, Yu Jin-gwang was asking them for money, more like an innkeeper than a host.
To make matters worse, he added, “And if the price is right, we can do even more for you.”
“Even more?”
“We can help resolve the issues you’re entangled in, as long as it’s within our capabilities.”
It was as if he could see right through them. Tang Mujin felt uneasy and hesitated.
But Namgung Myung’s reaction was different. With newfound confidence, he stepped forward.
“It’s an appealing offer. But first, I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“You’re not here because of a fallout with Yunnan, are you?”
Yu Jin-gwang narrowed his eyes.
“You’re quite perceptive for someone so young. But rest assured, there’s no such issue to worry about.”
“In that case, we’ll stay at the Yu Family Manor.”
Yu Jin-gwang nodded slowly and called for someone to guide them.
“Cheong-ah! Come and show our guests to the reception hall.”
“Understood.”
Following the person called Cheong, they headed to the reception hall.
The interior of the reception hall was clean and dust-free, but like the exterior, it was somewhat shabby. The bedding was slightly worn, and the few pieces of furniture were either wobbly or had rotting edges.
Tang Mujin, Dan Seol-young, and Chu Sam gathered around Namgung Myung.
From his earlier conversation with Yu Jin-gwang, it seemed Namgung Myung knew something about the Yu Family Manor.
“What was that about Yunnan you mentioned to the head of the manor?”
“Didn’t you notice anything about the escorts and the head of the manor?”
“I just thought they were well-trained. Nothing more.”
“The type of martial arts they practice is what’s important. They were all using techniques from the Jeomchang Sect.”
“What?”
Martial artists hiding their identities and living in unexpected places? It reminded Tang Mujin of the Three Swords of the Old Army. Could the Jeomchang Sect’s martial artists be caught up in something dangerous too?
“Why are Jeomchang Sect martial artists here?”
“I’m not from the Jeomchang Sect, so I can’t say for sure. But I have a hunch.”
“What is it?”
Namgung Myung paused before speaking.
“My uncle once told me that the Jeomchang Sect is facing its greatest crisis since its founding.”
Dan Seol-young’s expression filled with concern. If a major sect like the Jeomchang Sect was in crisis, it was likely a more severe issue than what Tang Mujin and his companions were facing.
“Shouldn’t we leave immediately? It feels like we’re getting involved in something bigger than we intended.”
“No, it’s not the kind of problem you’re thinking of, with swords flashing and blood flowing. But from the Jeomchang Sect’s perspective, it’s a more serious issue.”
“What kind of problem is it?”
“Financial troubles.”
The revelation was unexpected. Tang Mujin asked again, thinking he might have misheard.
“What? What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I said. The Jeomchang Sect is drowning in debt. From what I’ve heard, the interest they owe exceeds the income from their main branch.”
“How is that even possible? No, never mind. Just keep going.”
Namgung Myung took a moment to recall and organize his thoughts.
“From what my uncle told me, during the last war between the righteous and unorthodox sects, all sects suffered significant losses. Many martial artists were killed or injured. Our Namgung Clan was no exception.”
As Namgoong Myung reached that point in his story, Dan Seol-young interrupted, sounding as if she’d heard something unbelievable.
”…Our Namgoong family?”
Namgoong Myung realized his slip of the tongue too late, his face betraying his regret.
“Myung, are you from the Namgoong family?”
Namgoong Myung’s eyes trembled violently, but Tang Moo-jin wasn’t particularly surprised. He had always thought it was only a matter of time before this came out.
In fact, it was a wonder that the clumsy Namgoong Myung had managed to keep it a secret for so long.
Since the cat was out of the bag, Tang Moo-jin stepped in to clarify.
“Yes, his name is Namgoong Myung. He’s the only son of Namgoong Jincheon, the current head of the Namgoong family and the Sword Demon.”
The revelation was so astonishing that Dan Seol-young blurted out her thoughts without realizing it.
“This idiot? Why would someone like that be freeloading at our place?”
“Our place” was a phrase loaded with implications.
Namgoong Myung stammered, trying to explain.
“There were… circumstances. But that’s not what’s important right now. Let’s get back to the main topic.”
“I’m more interested in your story…”
Namgoong Myung ignored Dan Seol-young’s curiosity and continued with his original tale.
“Anyway, during the last Great Martial War, many sects lost a lot of disciples. People died, others were left crippled. Even famous warriors perished, like the Sword King of the Jeweonbaek family. It was heartbreaking, but there was another issue just as pressing, one that people were hesitant to speak about. The issue of money.”
Namgoong Myung continued his explanation.
“Our Namgoong family has a solid foundation, so we managed to recover from the losses. But not every sect was so fortunate. Some were already struggling financially, and others were poor at managing their funds. The most notable example was the Jeomchang sect. They suffered significant losses during the war.”
“Why the Jeomchang sect?”
“The Jeomchang sect is isolated, way out in the southwest.”
“Oh, right.”
The Qingcheng and Emei sects in Sichuan are also somewhat removed from the central regions. Some even refer to Sichuan as a remote backwater.
But the Jeomchang sect is even more isolated. You have to travel far southwest from Sichuan to reach Yunnan, and then go further inland to find the Jeomchang sect’s headquarters.
“The Jeomchang sect had no allied sects to help defend them, and as a result, their headquarters was completely burned down during the war. They had to rebuild everything, which must have cost a fortune.”
The financial troubles of a major sect were a secretive and intriguing topic, one that only someone like the heir of the Namgoong family would know about. The three listeners perked up, fully engrossed in Namgoong Myung’s story.
“Moreover, the Jeomchang sect’s income is likely minimal. Yunnan is a barren, sparsely populated area. They can’t make money by running trading companies or lucrative shops like other major families. It might take decades to pay off their massive debts… In the end, the former head of the Jeomchang sect, the Flash Sword Yoo Gwan-il, came up with a clever plan.”
“A clever plan?”
“He decided to gamble everything on a single throw of the dice. Yoo Gwan-il went to see the wealthiest man in the land, the Lord of the Golden Pavilion.”
Tang Moo-jin had heard of the Lord of the Golden Pavilion. Known for his financial acumen, he controlled numerous trading companies and even had a hand in commodities like salt, which individuals couldn’t usually touch.
Ask anyone who the richest person in the world is, and even a child would say it’s the Lord of the Golden Pavilion.
“So what did he do when he got there?”
“He rolled the dice.”
”…The dice?”
“Exactly. Yoo Gwan-il bet all of the Jeomchang sect’s assets, along with the money borrowed from other sects, on a game of dice. A true all-or-nothing gamble.”
“And the result?”
“He lost. Yoo Gwan-il immediately stepped down as the head of the Jeomchang sect and disappeared.”
Dan Seol-young asked a sharp question.
“Wait, how do you know all this? The Jeomchang sect wouldn’t have broadcasted their gambling loss.”
“Our Namgoong family lost money too.”
It was a more straightforward reason than expected. This time, Tang Moo-jin asked.
“But the Jeomchang sect is still in Yunnan, right? Didn’t they lose everything?”
“They’re essentially tenants now. They’re probably paying a hefty rent to the Lord of the Golden Pavilion. And that rent is likely being paid by warriors operating under the radar, just like here.”
Tang Moo-jin, Dan Seol-young, and Chu Sam were all left speechless.
Many martial artists live as if there’s no tomorrow, but Yoo Gwan-il, the former head of the Jeomchang sect, took it to a whole new level. Even Namgoong Myung’s foolish antics seemed wise and rational in comparison.
Suddenly, Tang Moo-jin recalled some advice he’d received from Gwai-eui in the past.
-You can join most families or sects. The Huashan sect’s Luoyang branch is fine, and so is the Sama family. But don’t go to the Wudang sect’s Luoyang branch or the Jeomchang sect’s Luoyang branch.
-Why not those two?
-The Wudang sect doesn’t accept women, which is a problem, and the Jeomchang sect’s branch has an old building with lots of bugs.
He had thought there was an unspeakable reason for avoiding the Jeomchang sect’s branch, but it turned out to be just as simple as that.
Now, he understood why the Lord of the Golden Pavilion had demanded lodging fees.
Tang Moo-jin felt a strange sense of solemnity.