Chapter 299: The Fire in Chang’an (1)

Qing had bought enough grain at double the market price to last until autumn.

Originally, Naknyeong, being a key intermediary city along the Nakha River, was filled with many warehouses. Because prime land in places like Nyangyang was already taken up by expensive warehouses, goods like grain, which don’t hold much value in terms of volume, were frequently moved to Naknyeong.

However, there was a fact that Geol Taran deliberately didn’t mention.

The city’s population had sharply decreased.

The flood control project had just finished this spring, and people had finally started to feel at ease on the newly built levees and embankments. However, the enormous waterway eventually flooded the city, breaking down the walls. The levee burst at night, and the area below the levee was swept away. Entire families were wiped out with no one left to even conduct the funerals, and for those who weren’t killed by collapsing homes and drowning, it was impossible to calculate the scale of the damage.

But Qing didn’t care about saving food for the many people who would never return. She wasn’t concerned with helping the unknown common folk; it wasn’t something the Celestial Demon’s Supreme Lord would worry about.

So Qing merely asked again in a calm tone.

"That much, huh? Was it really necessary to buy it all?"

"No, miss, you made a very wise decision. When a flood hits a city, all the merchants get greedy, don’t they?"

Whenever a flood hits, grain prices in the nearby areas inevitably rise.

And that was exactly the plan.

At secret meetings of the branch heads, they would agree to raise prices together, making sure it was all planned out, and then the prices would skyrocket.

So when people from the flood zone would try to buy grain, merchants would sell at inflated prices. And when they sold it back in their own towns, they’d use the excuse that there was a shortage because the flood victims had taken everything. Before they knew it, grain prices would be ten times higher, all while merchants were pretending to feel sorry for the victims.

But by stacking up enough grain to last until autumn, the local merchants had no excuse to raise prices further, and the people of Naknyeong wouldn’t be blamed unnecessarily.

"Hah. Merchants are the worst scum."

But it was unavoidable.

To succeed as a merchant, one needed the vicious heart of a rabid dog. Without hesitation, stepping on others and laughing while taking the last coin from the victims—only then could one truly be considered a great merchant.

Geol Taran deeply engrained the words of the Celestial Demon Supreme Lord into his heart.

Of course, he didn’t plan on keeping it to himself.

Before this year ended, every agent in the Bizakbu of the Cheonma Divine Cult would be made to engrave these words in their hearts.

The Celestial Demon’s Supreme Lord’s teachings made it clear: merchants were nothing but scum, and when the new era arrived, they would be the lowest of all professions.

"Hmm. You got the list, right?"

"Yes, miss. But it’s more of a payroll than a proper list, so I suspect about half the names are people who don’t even exist."

The nonexistent people were, ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) of course, the ones listed just for show, not actually working. But officially, they were recorded as having worked, and thus, the wages were paid. How they managed to pay those nonexistent workers was anyone’s guess.

"Really, it’s draining all the silver. It’s like the more you dig, the more dirty water comes out. But miss, it’s so bothersome..."

Qing scratched the back of her head.

Geol Taran, seeing this, grinned widely, his face lighting up with excitement.

"Miss! It’s not a bother! All you need to do is give orders, and the servants of Cheongsangbang will take care of everything!"

"Huh? You’re saying I should boss around the people from the branch?"

"Ah, if Master Choi finds out, won’t he be so happy! He told me to make sure to accommodate all your needs!"

"But the old man is the old man."

"And I! I can’t stand not doing anything. Please, if you have any work for me, let me do it! It’s the only way I can survive!"

His words were filled with a strong desire to serve, as if he couldn’t wait to jump into action.

It wasn’t just talk either. His eyes sparkled as if he were a dog begging for a walk.

After all, this was an opportunity to serve the Celestial Demon Supreme Lord himself. Geol Taran had been brainwashed from a young age, and serving the Supreme Lord was the only purpose of his life.

Seeing that earnest look in his eyes, Qing thought to herself, "Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to let him do a little work after all."

"I heard from Jeomsoi that the technicians sent for the project didn’t seem like they were gossiping. So, if we ask the workers, we should be able to get their names, their duties, and all sorts of personal details."

"Ah! If that’s the case, you absolutely must leave it to the servants! With so many people flooding into the city for relief, asking them will be no trouble at all."

"Oh. See, it’s always so much easier when people know how to handle things. You’re right, aren’t you?"

"Ah! Thank you, thank you! This is the glory of my lifetime! I will carry this joy with me forever, even in the afterlife!"

Qing chuckled softly.

This guy always makes a big fuss over a simple compliment. Doesn’t the old man ever give praise? Though, to be honest, the old man isn’t exactly the type to hand out compliments.

"But do you think there was a problem with the flood control project?"

"They said there were no issues with the design."

They had even emphasized that it should have been unaffected by this kind of heavy rain. Yet, the disaster still happened, which meant there had to be a reason for it.

"Anyway, since I’m headed to Jongnamsan, and since the Jangheung Sangbang branch is in Chang’an, I might as well stop by. If there’s an issue, well... what can I say? Now that I know about it, I can’t just walk away, can I?"

Qing said this with a sly smile.

"If something happened, someone’s gotta take responsibility."

Her eyes glinted ominously, a color that no one could describe, as if some dark fate were quietly unfolding within her gaze.

Geol Taran was moved to tears.

The Celestial Demon Supreme Lord’s gaze was like the end of the world, overflowing with divine power. What an awe-inspiring presence!

The Celestial Demon Supreme Lord, my eternal master!

In any case, a high-speed message was soon dispatched to the Cheonma Divine Cult’s Bizakbu.

[The noble one is headed to Chang’an.]

Recipient: Choi Ri-yong, Head of Taecheong Sangbang.

Destination: Zaguixian, Hubei Province, Seolgasanghui.

Geol Taran insisted Qing take a rest while he handled everything. He shot her pleading looks, practically begging her to stay.

Since she had to find the key technicians anyway, what could she do but stay?

Later, Qing returned to the inn, planning to eat a simple, hearty meal—after all, the atmosphere of the city wasn’t exactly one for a lavish feast.

After a quick bath and a change of clothes, she intended to grab Seol Iri and get some rest for the evening.

Though she had to admit, the name of the inn, "The Highest Court of the Three Thousand Worlds," was a bit grandiose. Why name it like that?

Of course, large estates in the Central Plains would always have the best rooms for guests, with the second-best rooms right after. It was customary to treat top guests and second-tier ones separately, in accordance with the local customs and etiquette.

The top room for the Wulin Alliance was the "Mucheonggak," while the "Yohwagak" in Shinnyeo Gate had become more of a storage space than an actual guest room.

But a name like "The Highest Court of the Three Thousand Worlds"? Really? Isn’t that a bit too much?

A little excess in manners is sometimes seen as rudeness, after all.

Of course, Qing didn’t know that this grand guest room existed solely for one person in the world.

How could she, who knew nothing else, ever suspect the truth that had been carefully hidden from her?

In any case, the "Greatest of the Three Thousand Worlds" guest room was larger inside than out.

What that meant was, in preparation for the Celestial Demon Supreme Lord’s arrival, removable walls had been set up, allowing the entire room to be taken apart and turned into a single massive chamber. From the outside, the room looked smaller than it actually was.

And in the middle of this grand room stood the finest, most luxurious bed. A woman who had been curled up on it lifted her head and glanced over as the door opened.

"You're here."

Qing's eyes widened.

What? What did I just hear? Did Seol Sojeo just greet me? Really?

It was a completely unexpected welcome.

"Seol Sojeo, how are you feeling?"

"No..." she replied weakly.

"Wait, don't just say 'no.' I said we should go see a doctor, didn’t I? Wait, didn’t you just say no?"

"Yes..."

Seol Iri was drenched in cold sweat, clearly in the condition of someone gravely ill.

Without her Binggong technique, Seol Iri could hardly stop sweating like that. Qing had seen her sweating heavily in the carriage earlier and had just assumed it was nothing, but now it seemed it was far worse than she thought.

"Miss. You should’ve gotten treated sooner. Just hold on a little longer. I'll bring a doctor."

A doctor with a celestial-like appearance checked her pulse and muttered in disbelief.

"Tsk, tsk, how could a person, especially a woman, be this beaten up? But, what a strange case. In my eighty years, I’ve never seen someone so well hurt."

The elderly doctor, his hair as white as snow, clicked his tongue.

But wasn’t what he said a bit off? Qing couldn’t help but ask.

"Well hurt?"

"Of course. Well hurt."

"Wait, if someone’s hurt, they’re hurt, but what do you mean by ‘well hurt’?"

"Hmph, well, usually it’s one of two ways."

Either the person who was hitting her was skilled enough to avoid leaving lasting injuries, or,

"Or, the one being hit was fortunate enough to take the blows in a way that broke or injured just one part of the body, avoiding the worst effects."

"Is it even possible to get hit ‘well’? Does that really happen?"

"Of course. Even those beggars, you know? They get hit so hard, yet after a little while, they’re perfectly fine. Once you get used to something, you get good at it. If you get beaten every day, you develop a technique for taking the hits."

"Oh, I see."

If there was anyone who had mastered the art of getting beaten, Qing would definitely be one of them. She had gotten pretty good at it herself.

But someone like Seol Sojeo, who was like a princess from the North Sea, had never had to endure such blows before.

No, the bandits must have thoroughly worked her over, breaking her down, using their skills on her.

After all, wasn’t it those noble young masters who had no weapons and just beat her senseless?

"Hmm. So, is she alright now?"

"Well, there are cracks in the bones. Pretty much in the arms and legs. But with enough rest, she’ll be fine. A bit of medicine, and she’ll get better faster. Honestly, she’s well enough that there’s no need to even worry too much about it."

Is this doctor really any good?

From the sound of it, it’s more like a quack.

But Qing wasn’t concerned. Geol Taran had arranged for the doctor, and with someone over eighty still in good health and practicing medicine, he probably had enough experience to be considered skilled.

"So, she’ll get better with rest?"

"Yes. But. Ah, by the way, miss, you mentioned something about doing a big charity. How about you give this old man ten gold bars? It’d really help."

"Eh? Just like that?"

"Right now, the city’s in ruins, and people are starving, so of course, we’re all a bit overwhelmed. But a disaster of this scale, if we can survive without dying, that’s already a blessing. Do you know why the plague’s starting to spread after a flood like this? We need to collect the bodies, bury them, and give the sick medicine before they get worse. That takes more than just a few coins."

"Oh, that’s true. Geol Taran, how much gold do we have left? More than ten bars, right? Let’s give them to the doctor here."

"Ah! Tsk, tsk."

The doctor clicked his tongue again, cutting off Qing’s words.

Qing, frustrated, responded.

"No, what’s wrong? I said I’d give it to you."

"You think that if you give gold to a doctor, medicine will just appear out of nowhere? Even if the medicine does appear, who’s going to brew it? You need someone to assist the doctor, and this old man can’t do it all by himself."

"Ah."

Now that he said it like that, Qing understood.

"Geol Taran. The doctor here wants to help the city with his skills. Can Taecheong Sangbang help out? I was thinking about food and reconstruction, but I hadn’t considered this side of things."

"Oh, miss, you don’t need to ask. Just give the order, and we’ll take care of everything. We would never dare question your orders. If you told us to carry firewood and jump into a blaze, we would do it without hesitation."

While this was a terrifying statement, when said with Geol Taran’s usual over-the-top flattery, it had no real persuasive power.

So Qing just listened, smiled, and moved on.

After all, she didn’t have the ability to read minds.