Chapter 96 : Chapter 96

Chapter 96: Negotiation (3)

Although there was a brief commotion, now that everyone from the Beggar's Gang and the Murim Alliance had arrived, it was right to proceed with the matter at hand.

“Since everyone is gathered, let's get to the main point.”

As if my words were a signal, Wonpyeong-gae stepped forward.

“All the cleared-out gang members have been assembled at the entrance of Mount Heng. It’s a complete blockade.”

Unrestrained Saber Peng Ga-heon, who had arrived with Yeom Gi-ha, also stepped forward.

“The martial arts forces of the Shanxi branch have also gathered at Mount Heng. They are all composed of trustworthy men.”

The beggars of the Beggar's Gang would control Mount Heng, and the martial artists of the Shanxi branch would collect and transport the spirit herbs.

I would call it a perfect division of labor.

“Let's go.”

Saying so, I initiated my lightness art.

There were no ordinary people among those gathered here, so it did not take long to reach the Garden of Joy in the valley of Mount Heng.

“Ooh-”

Everyone who witnessed the scenery of the Garden of Joy could not close their mouths, not even Musan-gae, who must have experienced all sorts of hardships.

“A place like this……!”

The Medicine Hall Lord, whose eyes burned as he looked at the Garden of Joy, was particularly impressive.

The Medicine Hall Lord's gaze resembled that of a martial artist who had overcome a wall.

***

In the Beggar's Gang, a Five-Knot Beggar is called a Hall Lord.

Therefore, Hall Lord is a rank signifying five knots and a position that manages the various halls belonging to the Beggar's Gang.

The halls of the Beggar's Gang are upper-level groups that oversee and manage several branches.

If the branches are the roots of the Beggar's Gang, the halls can be called the stems, meaning that those in charge of the actual work and influence of the Beggar's Gang are the Hall Lords.

This means that from the Five-Knot level, one is recognized as a key figure in the Beggar's Gang.

This is no empty talk, as the Hall Lords of influential halls sometimes possess power and authority surpassing that of a Six-Knot Law Beggar and comparable to that of a Seven-Knot Elder.

Especially the Hall Lords belonging to the Kaifeng Headquarters, not some minor province on the outskirts, are individuals whose promotion to Elder is certain in the future, so they can be called beggars with a bright future.

Three halls can be pointed out as having strong power and influence within the Beggar's Gang.

The Rumor Hall, which deals with and supervises information, which can be called the foundation of the Beggar's Gang.

The Martial Arts Hall, which gathers, researches, educates, and develops the martial arts of the Beggar's Gang.

And the Medicine Hall.

It is natural that the influence of the Rumor Hall is strong within the Beggar's Gang.

After all, isn't the identity of the group called the Beggar's Gang summed up by the two words 'beggar' and 'information'?

It is the natural order of things that the Rumor Hall, which supervises information in the Beggar's Gang that prides itself on being the best information organization in Jianghu, holds power.

It is a given that martial arts are important to a faction that traverses the Jianghu Murim, so it is inevitable that the Martial Arts Hall is powerful as well.

The reason the Beggar's Gang has proudly risen to become one of the Nine Sects One Gang is not entirely because of their large numbers or their preemption of information.

It is because their martial arts have been widely acknowledged by their peers in Jianghu as being comparable to that of the great factions.

The place that achieved that result is the Martial Arts Hall, so what more needs to be said?

In fact, if a faction living in the Jianghu Murim does not prioritize martial arts, it would be right to call them illiterate half-wits.

In that sense, it is somewhat unusual that the Medicine Hall is strong enough to be called one of the three great halls.

This is even more so if that influence was built solely on the outstanding capabilities within the hall itself.

In truth, the question 'What medicine could beggars possibly have?' might arise.

But this too can be sufficiently understood if one reasons it out logically for a bit.

This is because in the Jianghu Murim, medicine and medical arts are sciences where one learns the mechanisms through empirical evidence.

How did the medical arts of the Beggar's Gang advance?

Looking back, this too is the result of destiny, in the name of the natural order.

First of all, the beggars of the Beggar's Gang are truly like beggars. It means they are dirty, or in other words, they don't wash.

There is no clause in the rules of the Beggar's Gang that says not to wash, but most beggars consider washing clean a taboo. The Beggar's Gang is a place where those who wash often are even looked down upon.

It seems they interpreted the spirit of the Beggar's Gang, 'A beggar must be like a beggar,' in that way, so it would be right to call it a kind of customary law.

Anyway…….

In the old days, all sorts of infectious diseases often spread within the Beggar's Gang.

The Medicine Hall researched that poor hygiene was the cause of all sorts of diseases.

So, the Medicine Hall demanded that the beggars of the Beggar's Gang manage their hygiene.

The result was, of course.

-If they wash clean and go around, how can you call them beggars!

Fierce opposition.

-You dirty beggars. You shouldn't complain about being sick then.

The members of the Medicine Hall cursed the other beggars.

The sad reality was that even the Medicine Hall beggars who cursed so were reluctant to wash often. This was because they too did not want to become beggars who were looked down upon.

Was it said that inefficiency is sometimes the shortcut to progress?

The Medicine Hall performed the feat of advancing medical arts to prevent and treat all sorts of diseases, even while somewhat neglecting hygiene. Thus, the Beggar's Gang found peace through the power of the Medicine Hall.

While the capabilities and efforts of the Medicine Hall beggars were outstanding, it was also thanks to the overflowing sample size of one hundred thousand beggars serving as their experimental ground, augmenting their capabilities.

That's not the end of it.

Beggars eat all sorts of things.

Begged food is often spoiled or sour, so it is also the job of the Medicine Hall to treat the beggars who fall ill.

It would be easier to trace if they just got sick from eating food.

It is also common for a beggar who failed to beg to pick and eat nameless grasses or fruits from the mountains, get poisoned, and be brought to the Medicine Hall.

-You beggar-like bastards, I told you not to eat just anything!

-I'm not a beggar-like bastard, I'm a beggar! And how can a beggar be picky about what he eats. You well-fed Medicine Hall bastards.

-……You're right.

Thus, the Medicine Hall became a specialized group not only for diseases but also for all sorts of poisonous herbs and poisonings.

Thanks to the vast sample size and dedicated efforts, the medical arts of the Beggar's Gang reached a level that could rightly be called the best in Jianghu.

“I am the Medicine Hall Lord, Uisaeng-gae.”

The current Medicine Hall Lord, Uisaeng-gae.

He was a middle-aged beggar who gave off the impression of a weak scholar or academic, but no one could ignore him.

The fact that he was the head of an outstanding group meant that he was an outstanding individual.

“I am Myeong, the second son of the Dancheon Clan.”

“To meet the renowned Great Hero Dancheon like this.”

“You praise me too much.”

The Medicine Hall Lord of the Headquarters.

Uisaeng-gae, an influential figure whose future as a Seven-Knot Elder was certain, was a person who knew his manners, unlike a beggar.

“How is it?”

At my question, Uisaeng-gae’s gaze swept over the Garden of Joy. His still-burning eyes are impressive.

“Of the total nineteen types of spirit herbs needed for the production of the Emerald Rescue Pill, I have found fourteen types.”

Uisaeng-gae's role in this trip was none other than to classify and collect the ingredients for the Emerald Rescue Pill from the Garden of Joy.

It was also the reason why I, along with Chwipung-gae, had requested the presence of the Medicine Hall Lord.

I too have studied extensively about spirit herbs and medicinal plants, so I could be called close to an expert. I'm good enough to easily act as a Ginseng Digger.

I became so while preparing for regression by obtaining the Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art in the Beggar's Gang, a treasure trove of information.

But I also know that Uisaeng-gae is more of an expert than me.

There was also the fact that I knew that the Medicine Hall Lord of the Headquarters, Uisaeng-gae, was one of the few who had been taught the method of compounding the Emerald Rescue Pill.

It would be better for the person who will make it to see the ingredients.

“The five missing spirit herbs are ones that cannot grow in the northern regions or mountainous areas due to their ecology. In fact, this is the first time I’ve seen a spirit herb colony of this scale. The scale is one thing, but the variety is vast. If we could artificially create an ecosystem like this……”

Uisaeng-gae’s expression, as he endlessly talked about things I hadn't even asked about, was flushed with excitement.

To discover a treasure trove of spirit herbs and not feel greed for its value, but excitement for a medical discovery.

As expected, that beggar was no ordinary beggar either.

I wanted to humor his sentiments, but I didn't have much time.

“What should we do about the missing ones?”

Five types of spirit herbs is not a small number. We needed to devise a solution.

“Hmm. That’s the thing. I don’t know.”

“Hmm.”

Unfortunately, the Medicine Hall Lord Uisaeng-gae was a fool who knew nothing but medicine.

At that moment…….

“There is a way.”

A voice of salvation was heard.

It was the Dragon Head Clan Leader Musan-gae.

“If we secure several spirit herbs of a similar grade, we can barter.”

It was a suggestion to utilize the human and material resource network of the Beggar's Gang.

It is difficult to obtain spirit herbs with gold, but it is not as difficult as one might think to obtain other spirit herbs with spirit herbs, provided one can borrow the vast information network of the Beggar's Gang.

“Thank you.”

In truth, it was a matter that was easily discussed because he was the Clan Leader, so it was right to express my gratitude.

When I turned my gaze, I saw the Alliance Leader Yeom Gi-ha with an indifferent and bored expression.

The command of the Alliance members was Peng Ga-heon's role, so he was no different from a scarecrow right now.

I understand his feelings.

This was because, with the exception of special cases like the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Extreme Blood Treasure, to Yeom Gi-ha, a spirit herb was no different from a medicinal herb. This was even more so for Yeom Gi-ha, who was detached from money.

“Alliance Leader, come here.”

“Why do you call me?”

As if wondering if something interesting had happened, the Alliance Leader quickly approached.

The Alliance Leader, Musan-gae, and I.

The representatives who could speak for the interests of each group gathered again.

Before it was too late, I brought up the main topic.

“Let's negotiate now.”

“Hmm.”

“Ahem.”

There is a fact that must not be forgotten.

The original discoverers of this Garden of Joy are Chun-baek hyung and I.

For the peace and future of Jianghu, it is right for the spirit herbs of the Garden of Joy to go to the Murim Alliance, but that does not mean I will give up my rights.

***

The Murim Alliance Leader, Emperor Breaker Yeom Gi-ha.

He did not like negotiations.

The reason was that negotiations are done with words.

For Yeom Gi-ha, who had achieved what he wanted by beating up those he didn't like, negotiation, which was to assert one's rights through eloquence, was perceived as a sluggish and inefficient method.

The strong one beats up the weak one and seizes the treasure.

However, since the strong one usually knows righteousness and chivalry, he shares a cut with the weak one.

This was what Yeom Gi-ha considered justice and fair distribution.

In that process, there was no room for petty tricks like negotiation to interfere.

At least, the young Yeom Gi-ha was like that.

But Yeom Gi-ha, who had become the Murim Alliance Leader, had reached an age where he knew that not all worldly affairs could be solved by force.

By Yeom Gi-ha’s standards, it was a compromise with the ways of the world, but there was no other way. That was how one became an adult.

Anyway, sending Yeom Gi-ha as the person in charge of the Garden of Joy meant that he had to engage in negotiations, so Singija had held on to the reluctant Yeom Gi-ha and devoted himself to negotiation training.

-Memorize this.

-What?

-Young Master Myeong will probably give the Beggar’s Gang the right of first refusal on the ingredients for the Emerald Rescue Pill. The Beggar’s Gang are people who won't be greedy for anything other than the ingredients for the Emerald Rescue Pill, so there will be no room for dispute.

-Gija, were you a fortune teller?

-Shut up and just memorize it.

-Alright.

“Will the right of first refusal on the ingredients for the Emerald Rescue Pill be enough for the Beggar’s Gang?”

Leaving Yeom Gi-ha's thoughts behind, Dancheon Myeong asked the beggars of the Beggar's Gang so. It was the same content as what Singija had said, as if they had agreed in advance.

“That is sufficient.”

The Medicine Hall Lord Uisaeng-gae replied with satisfaction.

“Good.”

Seeing that the picky old man Musan-gae did not raise any objections, it must have been a reasonable proposal.

-Then what will the Beggar's Gang give to Myeong?

-Probably two Emerald Rescue Pills and an honorary gang member position.

-An honorary member?

-By my prediction, they will likely give him authority comparable to a Four-Knot Law Protector.

“The Beggar's Gang will give you two Emerald Rescue Pills.”

“……!”

As Singija's prediction came true once again, Yeom Gi-ha swallowed a gasp of surprise.

However, the situation began to flow in an unexpected direction.

“Three pills.”

This was because Chwipung-gae had intervened in Musan-gae’s negotiation.

It was a situation that even the greatest strategist in Jianghu, Singija, had not anticipated.