Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 41

“I’ll provide the silver for the cleanup. First, tidy this place and ensure no one hears about what happened here. Understand?” Han Li tossed a silver pouch to Sun Yigu. Sun Yigu caught it, and even with a rough estimate, he guessed it contained well over a hundred taels of silver [a tael is a unit of currency]. His face regained its color, and he suddenly thought that working under this generous young man might not be so bad after all.

“Young master, rest assured! I’ll clean this place so thoroughly that no trouble will ever reach you,” he said, patting his chest with a wide smile.

“Good, then I’ll head to the inn first. Come find me early tomorrow morning. Since you’re familiar with this area, finding me should be a piece of cake,” Han Li ordered naturally.

“Yes! Of course! I’ll be sure to find you tomorrow morning and await your instructions!” Han Li smiled at his response, then gave the bundle back to Qu Hun and left the area. After walking for a while, he turned back to see Sun Yigu still standing in the same spot, watching him leave. He seemed very loyal.

“That’s an interesting fellow.”

That sight suddenly sparked Han Li’s interest in Sun Yigu. His quick wit might be useful later.

* * *

“The Jiao Society is a gang with about 64,000 ordinary members, 7,000 core members, and is considered one of the three major powers in Nan Province, controlling Jiayuan City…”

“He had five wives in his lifetime and two daughters. As for disciples… His first wife was a Kim, with a gentle personality, the only daughter of Kim Chan, the head of the Golden Lion Escort Agency. She was already murdered and passed away, leaving behind a daughter named Moon Ok-ju. His second wife was a Lee, who was literate and knowledgeable, from a wealthy family, but had no children. His third wife was a Ryu, with a bold and ambitious personality. She is the younger sister of Ryu Bong, the head of the Changfeng Sect in Gokreung City. Caution is advised.

His fourth wife was an Eom, my cousin, who is prudent, thoughtful, and refined. She gave birth to a daughter named Moon Chae-hwan and was given most of the power within the Jiao Society before I left my hometown. She can be trusted.

His fifth wife was a Wang, who is taciturn but deeply devoted to me. She was originally a maid of my first wife, Kim, and is a capable woman despite her appearance. She can be fully trusted. My adopted daughter, Moon Bong-mu, was originally the daughter of a trusted subordinate, but both her parents died early, so I took her in. She is pure-hearted and intelligent and was only seven years old when I left my hometown.”

“Yeon Ga is the first disciple, with average talent, and has already been taught the secret technique, the Demonic Silver Hand. He was twelve years old when I left and his nature is unknown. Jo Gon is the second disciple, with outstanding talent, and has been taught the secret technique, the Dragon Binding Skill. He was ten years old when I left.

Ma Gong-cheon is my sworn brother and is the chief protector of the Jiao Society. His nature is…”

Han Li was pacing around his room at the Huiyuan Inn, holding the late Master Moon’s will, which was filled with writing. The will detailed Master Moon’s founding of the Jiao Society and the establishment of its foundation. It also listed the personalities of his wives and concubines, allowing Han Li to understand Master Moon’s family.

However, the information written there was ten years old. It was highly likely that things were completely different now. Whether to meet Master Moon’s wives and concubines first or steal the treasure and run away was a matter to be decided after observing the situation. Thinking this, Sun Yigu, whom he had taken in yesterday, seemed like he would be very useful.

Han Li carefully examined the will and tucked it into his inner pocket. Then, he returned to the bed, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes. It was to examine his own body.

The poison within his dantian [an area in the body believed to be the center of vital energy] had been showing signs of spreading outward for about a month. The thing that had been barely noticeable before was now the size of a pea and was continuing to grow.

Han Li estimated that, at most, in two months, the poison would fully manifest and lead him to his death. With a worried face, he vowed to obtain the Warm Yang Jade no matter what. Just then, someone knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Han Li called out. The door slowly opened, and Sun Yigu entered with his head bowed. He bowed respectfully to Han Li and greeted him politely.

“Young master, how have you been! Sun Yigu has come as you instructed.”

“I see. You came so quickly; you’re not as bad as I thought.”

Han Li, showing satisfaction, got up from the bed, put his hands behind his back, and stood before Sun Yigu.

“Young master, you flatter me. If I can’t even do such a trivial thing, then there would be no reason for you to keep me alive, would there?” Sun Yigu replied loyally with a smile. That day, Sun Yigu had considered reporting to his superiors and seeking revenge with the help of a master. However, when he thought about the Heart-Rotting Pill he had taken, those thoughts completely disappeared.

After worrying all night, he couldn’t come up with any solution. He could only hope to help Han Li as promised and have the Heart-Rotting Pill removed after the job was done.

“Yesterday, I saw that you seemed to have a gang under you. What is your position?” Han Li asked casually.

“I am the manager of the docks in the Siping Gang of the West District. I have about fifty subordinates, so I can be considered a small gang leader,” Sun Yigu replied respectfully.

“Siping Gang?”

“Yes, the Siping Gang is one of the 33 small gangs in the West District of Jiayuan City, with nearly a thousand members, mostly dockworkers. The gang leader is Yuan Bi, Shim Jung-san, and he has three great protectors under him.”

Sun Yigu immediately spilled the information in response to Han Li’s question. He didn’t hesitate at all, even though he was revealing his gang’s situation.

“Then, was that dark-skinned fellow who tried to attack me yesterday also from the Siping Gang?”

“No, he was called Black Bear, the deputy leader of the Iron Fist Society, one of the 33 gangs, and he was always on bad terms with me,” Sun Yigu explained in a flattering tone, as if he had nothing to do with it.

“Just in the West District, there are so many gangs. Then, there must be a huge number of gangs in the entire Jiayuan City?” Han Li put his hands behind his back and casually returned to the bed.

“That’s right. Looking at the entire Jiayuan City, there are over 40 small gangs with less than a thousand members, 7 to 8 mid-sized gangs with 2,000 to 3,000 members, and 3 large gangs with over 10,000 members.”

Watching Han Li walk, Sun Yigu diligently rattled off everything he knew.

“Then, tell me about the situation of the large and mid-sized gangs. There’s no need to know the details of the small gangs.”

Han Li rolled up his sleeves, sat on the bed, and quietly waited for the story to come out of Sun Yigu’s mouth.

* * *

“The three major gangs of Jiayuan City are the Brotherhood Alliance, the Jiao Society, and the Heavenly Tyrant Gate. Besides them, there are also smaller gangs like the Iron Spear Society, the Righteousness Society, the Green Robe Gang, the Spring Rain Pavilion, the Canghe Boat Gang, the Vajra Gate, and the Setting Sun Sect.”

Sun Yigu listed the names of the gangs in one breath and then took a deep breath. He then continued his explanation.

“Among the three major gangs, the Heavenly Tyrant Gate is the strongest, allied with the Golden Sword Gate and the Green Robe Gang, and occupies the wealthiest East District. The next most powerful is the Brotherhood Alliance, allied with the Iron Spear Society, the Canghe Boat Gang, and the Righteousness Society, occupying the North District. The weakest of the three, the Jiao Society, is allied with the Spring Rain Pavilion, the Vajra Gate, and the Setting Sun Sect, controlling the South District. Finally, the West District is the most complex, with various small gangs dividing the area, and internal strife is constant. However, if the powers of other regions try to invade the West District, they stop all disputes and unite against external forces. Because of this, Jiayuan City can be seen as having four powers holding the center.”

Sun Yigu, without any hesitation, summarized the powers within Jiayuan City as smoothly as flowing water. Based on his explanation, Han Li paused for a moment to think and then spoke again.

“I heard that the Jiao Society used to dominate Jiayuan City, so why is it now the weakest of the three major gangs?”

“Young master, that’s a story from the old days. It’s true that the Jiao Society was really powerful many years ago and had influence throughout Nan Province. In those days, they were based in the entire Jiayuan City, and other gangs had no room to interfere. It was like a monopoly.

Other gangs were also suppressed by the Jiao Society’s overwhelming power and couldn’t even make a peep. But after that, for some reason, the Jiao Society’s power began to decline overnight, and the areas they lost became the foundation for other gangs. As the power that had enjoyed tremendous prosperity in Jiayuan City began to shrink, other large and small gangs took the opportunity to jump into the territorial disputes. After several bloody battles, the current power structure was finally formed.”

Sun Yigu clearly answered Han Li’s question.

“Then, do you know how the Jiao Society became like that?”

“That is… Actually, I don’t have a high enough position within the gang, so I don’t know the details. However, according to others, there seems to have been a division within the Jiao Society, and there was a power struggle. It seems that there were also other external forces behind it.”

Han Li frowned and asked in detail about the Jiao Society, but Sun Yigu also showed difficulty and gave a vague answer.

“Hmm, I see!”

It was as if Han Li already knew that general information, and he just slightly raised the corners of his mouth.

“Do you know who is leading the Jiao Society now?”

“Of course, I know. It’s Madam Eom, the widow of Moon Kyung-in, the original leader of the Jiao Society.”

As the topic shifted to something he knew, Sun Yigu quickly answered.

“Widow?”

An expression of doubt appeared on Han Li’s face.

“Yes! Since the leader of the Jiao Society, Moon, died, wouldn’t his wife be a widow?”

Sun Yigu blinked, looking at Han Li’s expression. He couldn’t figure out if there was anything wrong with his words.

“Who said that Master Moon died?”

Feeling that something was going strangely, Han Li’s expression turned cold.

“It’s a fact that everyone in Jiayuan City knows. A year ago, Moon Kyung-in’s disciple, the Ghost Hand, delivered the news of Master Moon’s death to the Moon family with Master Moon’s will and token.”

Sun Yigu began to tremble with fear at Han Li’s increasingly worsening expression.

“A disciple? What’s his name?” Han Li asked coldly, his brow furrowed.

“They call him Oh Geom-myeong, a pretty boy around 20 years old. It’s said that he has already received the essence of Moon Kyung-in’s teachings and is incredibly strong,” Sun Yigu carefully told what he knew. He had already noticed that Han Li had some connection with the Jiao Society and was particularly concerned about that disciple.

“Moreover…”

“If you have something to say, then say it. Don’t beat around the bush! If you tell me useful information, I will reward you greatly.”

At Sun Yigu’s hesitant appearance, Han Li urged him to continue.

“I also heard that that Master Oh seems to be engaged to Moon Ok-ju, the Moon family’s precious daughter. They will probably get married soon.”

“Marriage! Haha!”

Han Li, as if dumbfounded, kicked off the bed and stood up. He walked around the room for a bit, then fixed his gaze on the ceiling and fell into thought for a moment.

# 43