The Human Emperor c1-2382

by Huangfu Qi (皇甫奇)

  As such, Wang Chong didn’t pay much heed to it either.

  However, at this moment, Wang Chong suddenly realized that it wasn’t a coincidence. Most probably, his meeting with the ‘Demonic Emperor Old Man’ might have been the impetus for this matter.

  This filial son couldn’t have possibly incurred the wrath of violent ruffians.

  The only possibility… could only be his meeting with the ‘Demonic Emperor Old Man’.

  The ‘life-changing opportunity’ for one might just be a plain disaster for another.

  At this point, Wang Chong couldn’t help but sigh deeply!

  Chapter 149: Preparations!

  “Young master!”

  Suddenly, footsteps sounded from behind. Dressed in a black robe, Shen Hai walked over from the depths of the shadows.

  “I’ve already checked, and there hasn’t been any peculiar old man appearing in the vicinity recently. No one else has appeared in this house either.”

  Shen Hai said.

  There were a few other Wang Family Residence guards following behind him.

  For this operation, the guards had split into two groups. One was led by Wang Chong while the other one was led by Shen Hai. Even though they came by different routes following different clues, they eventually converged at this location.

  “Seems like the Demonic Emperor Old Man hasn’t appeared yet!”

  Wang Chong thought as he stared at the starry sky above.

  Initially, Wang Chong thought that he might be a little too late for this operation. If the Demonic Emperor Old Man had already found Zhou Wen, then that would be the worst case scenario.

  But from the looks of it, even though Wang Chong had noticed the clue a little late, it seemed like the incident hadn’t occurred yet.

  In other words, he still stood a chance.

  “For the next few days, you all will follow him. Deploy all of the guards in the Wang Family Residence for this and take note of every single action of his. Also, inform Wei Hao of the matter and borrow some men from their side for this operation as well.”

  Wang Chong said.

  “However, if we were to deploy all of the guards from the residence for this operation, what if another assassination occurs?”

  Shen Hai frowned.

  If not for Arloja, Ablonodan, and Tuoba Guiyuan, the Charax Spasinu assassins might have successfully gotten in then. Madam Wang was still living in the residence, and her safety had to be considered.

  “Don’t worry. I’ve already informed Miyasame Ayaka to return.”

  Wang Chong smiled. Given that the Assassin Pavilion had been cleared out, there was nothing that could threaten the Wang Clan now. Besides, he had Li Zhuxin by his side as well.

  During this period of time, he just had to keep Li Zhuxin in the residence. One will remain in the open while the other one hides in the dark. On top of that, Arloja, Ablonodan, and Tuoba Guiyuan will be there as well. Even though there will only be five people there, the Wang Family Residence could be considered as an impregnable fortress already!

  No one who tries to enter will be able to get out alive!

  “Right, have you all got any news on that Mosaide yet?”

  Wang Chong asked.

  “Not yet.”

  Shen Hai shook his head.

  “We’ve already questioned the other Charax Spasinu merchants via Big Golden Tooth, and there isn’t anyone called Mosaide among them. However, there is a person named Sulaiman who happens to be a close fit to our description.”

  “Sulaiman?”

  Wang Chong eyebrows twitched. “You said that his name is Sulaiman?”

  “Yes, young master. However, based on the news we got, he has already left the capital for Charax Spasinu about a month ago.”

  Thinking that Wang Chong didn’t catch his words clearly, Shen Hai repeated.

  Silence drifted across the dark night, and Wang Chong gazed at the skies with a bizarre expression. An inexplicable feeling welled within his heart.

  He had no doubt that the assassination that night was the doing of Charax Spasinu merchant, Mosaide.

  Wang Chong wasn’t clear about what kind of person Mosaide was, but as for Sulaiman…

  If Wang Chong remembered clearly, he was the fellow who brought the Wootz steel to the Central Plains and sold it for an astronomical sum in his previous life.

  Currently, the Hyderabad ores had just barely surfaced, and Charax Spasinu and Abbasid Caliphate should still be incapable of forging true Wootz steel weapons yet.

  The time wasn’t ripe yet, but Sulaiman had appeared in the Central Plains and attended the sales Wang Chong conducted at the Bluebottle Pavilion.

  For a person who would bring Wootz steel to the Central Plains in the future to be buying Wootz steel from the Central Plains instead, even going to the extent of dispatching assassins to steal it…

  Destiny was indeed a mystical and unfathomable thing!

  “Hmph! You sure escaped fast!”

  A faint but bizarre smile slowly spread on Wang Chong’s face.

  Sulaiman didn’t come to sell the Wootz steel sword in the Central Plains just to boost the strength of the Central Plains. Wang Chong knew that the sales was just a cover. In truth, that fellow had another mission—intelligence gathering.

  In the future war between the Abbasid Caliphate and Great Tang, the intelligence Sulaiman provided played a crucial role.

  However, this fellow was simply too cunning. Even Wang Chong didn’t expect him to have sneaked into Great Tang long before the sales of the Wootz steel sword, even assuming the identity of Mosaide for it.

  In his previous life, Wang Chong was an ordinary profligate scion. While he had heard of Sulaiman, he never met him, so how could he had known?

  Besides, this fellow was extremely wary. As soon as the slightest sign of danger appeared before him, he would escape immediately, not granting anyone the chance to capture him.

  It wasn’t without a reason that this fellow was able to become the chief spy of the Abbasid Caliphate and Charax Spasinu in the future.

  “It’ll be your death date the next time I see you!”

  A cold glint flashed across Wang Chong’s eyes, and he soon dumped this matter to the back of his head. Dealing with Sulaiman was a matter for the future; what was important now was the Demonic Emperor Old Man.

  In Wang Chong’s plan, the 《Great Yinyang Heaven Creation Art》 played a crucial role. Without this divine technique, it would be impossible for Wang Chong to reach the same level as he did back then in just a few years time.

  Without unparalleled martial arts and cultivation, it would be difficult for him to even interfere in the war that would shake the entire world, needless to say, change destiny.

  Thus, the 《Great Yinyang Heaven Creation Art》 was something he had to obtain.

  If he were to obtain both the 《Great Yinyang Heaven Creation Art》 and Elder Su Zhengchen’s 《Art of God and Demon Obliteration》, and complement their flaws with the might of the other, he would be able to become one of the top experts in the world swiftly!

  These two techniques were the two most important rings in Wang Chong’s plan after his reincarnation.

  Only with the support of the overwhelmingly powerful 《Great Yinyang Heaven Creation Art》 would the 《Art of God and Demon Obliteration》 gain the strength to destroy everything standing before its path.

  And only when the 《Great Yinyang Heaven Creation Art》 was complemented with the 《Art of God and Demon Obliteration》 would it be able to bring out its true fearsome might!

  However, to obtain the both of them simultaneously was simply too difficult.

  In his previous life, no one had succeeded in doing so. To most, this thought was so ludicrous that none dared to consider the possibility. However, this was the only option Wang Chong had.

  This was the only way that he could surpass the limits he faced in his previous life and accomplish what he failed in then.

  “Shen Hai, the
re’s a matter that I would like to entrust you with.”

  Wang Chong said.

  “Young master, feel free to speak.”

  Shen Hai replied without any hesitation.

  “Tell Wei Hao to negotiate with the head of the Zhou Clan, and regardless of what method he uses, make sure to poach Zhou Wen over to his business. Give him a job with a generous wage so that he can treat his mother. On top of that, send a few guards to protect him from the dark so that he can live the rest of his life in peace.”

  Wang Chong instructed.

  ‘Zhou Wen’ was a ticking bomb. He and the Demonic Emperor Old Man seemed to be linked together by destiny. If Wang Chong didn’t drive away Zhou Wen, then no matter how many guards he sent, no matter how hard he tried to hinder the two of them from meeting, a lapse in their prevention might still occur somewhere, resulting in the eventual fate of Zhou Wen saving the Demonic Emperor Old Man.

  If so, the tragedy from his previous life would replay once more.

  The Demonic Emperor Old Man would die after passing on all of his strength and the 《Great Yinyang Heaven Creation Art》 to Zhou Wen. On the other hand, Zhou Wen’s saving of the Demonic Emperor Old Man would result in the death of his mother, and from there on, Zhou Wen would be forced into the callous and bloodied pugilistic world. Eventually, due to his gentleness, mediocre talent, and lacking battle experience, the very same tragedy would replay…

  To some people, this kind of opportunity was something that they craved for, but for the others, it was nothing more than a nightmare!

  Zhou Wen wasn’t capable of driving the 《Great Yinyang Heaven Creation Art》, and he wasn’t suited for it as well.

  Only in Wang Chong’s hands would it be able to display its full might.

  Zhou Wen would be able to obtain what he desired, a peaceful and content life with his mother, and he wouldn’t have to engage in the murder that he abhorred. At the same time, through obtaining the 《Great Yinyang Heaven Creation Art》, Wang Chong would be able to accomplish his mission!

  This… was the best arrangement!

  Shen Hai was perplexed. Zhou Wen was a filial child, so he could understand why Wang Chong wanted to help him. However, he couldn’t understand why Wang Chong would assign two guards to him.

  What in the world did this Zhou Wen possess for the young master to value him so highly?

  Shen Hai felt more and more bewildered.

  Even so, he agreed to it without any hesitation.

  “Yes, young master. I’ll have it done right now!”

  Without wasting a word, Shen Hai walked away to complete the task asked of him

  After making all of the necessary arrangements, Wang Chong dived into the carriage and left quietly, not alarming anyone in the surroundings at all.

  …………

  “Clan head, this is the last superior ore that our Zhang Clan possess! All that are left are of inferior quality. Furthermore, our final mine is about to be dug out in at most three months!”

  Just as Wang Chong was leaving the eastern city, a discussion was going on in the Zhang Clan Residence. A group of the core elders of the Zhang Clan sat in a circle with creases furrowed deeply into their foreheads.

  What that was placed before them was the final piece of top quality unprocessed ore they brought over from the mine.

  This ore reflected the current circumstances of the Zhang Clan.

  All of their ore mines were about to be dug out, and regarding the sales of their weapon, they also met with the oppression from the Cheng, Lu, Huang, and the other swordsmithing clans. The glorious Zhang Clan was already a thing of the past, and currently, it was already forced up a corner under all of the pressure on them.

  If the Zhang Clan wanted to resolve this crisis, they had to find a new large-scale mine. However, how could finding a mine be something easy?

  Almost all of the existing mines had an owner, and most of them were in the hands of the other swordsmithing clans.

  The Zhang Clan did consider developing a new large-scale mine of their own, but this matter wasn’t as easy as it seemed.

  Ores were hidden deep underground, and to accurately locate a mine within the humongous Central Plains was no different from finding a needle in the vast ocean. Furthermore, it was an uncertainty whether there was truly an undiscovered mine out there for them to uncover.

  After all, the Central Plains had a long history behind it, and almost all possible locations had already been looked into.

  Besides, there were various stringent conditions to the geography for one to successfully develop a mine. Just because there was an ore deposit didn’t mean that one could necessarily mine it.

  Chapter 150: Investing in the Zhang Clan (1)

  “Clan head, I feel that we should negotiate with Chong gongzi of the Wang Clan. Even if we don’t earn any monetary incentive from working with him, I believe that we’ll benefit from a partnership. The Wootz steel sword is currently standing at the peak of all weapons, and if we manage to procure Wootz steel, we’ll surely be able to suppress all of the other clans. This way, we’ll have sufficient time to look for a suitable mine without worrying about our market share being stolen by the Cheng, Huang, and Lu clan.”

  One of the elders suggested.

  To the swordsmithing clans, superior ore wasn’t just money; it was their lifeline. The moment a clan lacked superior ores, its market share would immediately plummet.

  It would be impossible for the other clans to not exploit this opportunity.

  The moment a clan lost its market share, it would be difficult to regain it. What all of the swordsmithing clans were vying for was market share! Furthermore, this matter had a chain reaction.

  Once the market share of a clan plummeted, the swordsmiths in the clan would become idle. They would then leave the clan to join another faction.

  If such a situation were to occur, the clan would have truly fallen into decline. It would be for naught even if the clan still possessed a large sum of money. Money was just like flowing water; without a steady income, it would be emptied out quickly.

  The Zhang Clan was one of the oldest swordsmithing clans, and having experienced such dangers before, they were extremely familiar with it, so they feared it greatly.

  They didn’t wish to experience it once more.

  This was also the reason why everyone was gathered here today. The danger had already reached an unimaginable level, and it would blow up in three months at latest.

  Before this, they had to find a solution.

  “It’s no use! Before the matter at the Bluebottle Pavilion, we might still stand a chance. However… You all should know that he sold a saber in the Imperial Army for three hundred thousand gold taels! With such profit, how could he be willing to share it with us?”

  A plump elder objected.

  These words sent everyone into silence. The Wootz steel sword had already become a legend in the Central Plains. Despite the standard market price of around six hundred to seven hundred gold taels for a single top-notch sword, Wang Chong managed to sell a saber for three hundred thousand gold taels. To the prestigious clans, this was completely unimaginable!

  Just the thought of it placed immense pressure on their shoulders.

  Before the incident at the Bluebottle Pavilion, Wang Chong was just an unknown figure. Everyone in the room could be considered as his seniors.

  But now, this fifteen-year-old youngster, along with his Wootz steel and forging techniques, had become a towering mountain to them, an existence that they couldn’t comprehend and could only look up to.

  “… Actually, this matter isn’t completely impossible!”

  Suddenly, a voice sounded, grasping everyone’s attention in an instant.

  “Zhang Jian? What do you intend to say?”

  Everyone immediately turned to look at Zhang Jian. Speaking of the third son of the Wang Clan, Zhang Jian and Zhang Cong were the first to come into contact with him, so they had the most authority in
this aspect.

  “Haven’t you all realized yet? Until now, we haven’t heard any news on him buying a forge or him working with anyone. Furthermore, even though his Wootz steel sword managed to fetch an astronomical sum, he can only produce one per month!”

  Zhang Cong spoke slowly.

  “Go on.”

  The head of the Zhang Clan looked at Zhang Jian and Zhang Cong with a contemplative look.

  “What I mean is that even though it has been a long time since the Wootz steel became famous, he’s still working as an individual. The Wootz steel is a lucrative business, and if a clan could support him, his burden would be eased. In other words, this is an opportunity for our Zhang Clan!”

  Zhang Jian revealed what was on his mind.

  “How could a single swordsmith match up to the efficiency of a swordsmithing clan? He doesn’t have much experience in this field, so he would surely require help on many aspects, be it looking for swordsmiths, the location for the forge, and many other things… We can these terms as a leverage for a partnership. I believe that as long as we show sufficient sincerity, there’s no reason for Chong gongzi would reject a partnership.”

  Upon hearing those words, everyone fell into contemplation. Even though Zhang Jian’s words made sense, the matter regarding the Wootz steel sword wasn’t as easy as it seemed.

  Every single Wootz steel sword could potentially fetch up to several hundred thousand gold taels, why would anyone be willing to split the profit?

  In any case, if it was them, they would definitely reject all partnerships. However, left with no choice, they could only pin their hopes on this slim chance. It was just a matter of time before their mines were dug out, and news would start spreading soon. Or perhaps, it might have already reached the ears of others.

  At the very least, this matter was worth giving it a shot.

  “Zhang Jian, what do you need then?”

  “I require the clan head to grant me the privilege to negotiate freely!”

  “Alright, I’ll give you the permission to make decisions on behalf of the clan. As long as it isn’t overboard, there’s no need for you to report the negotiation to me!”