That night, Baek Suryong finished his one-day Viridian Forest employment and went to see the Viridian Scholar.

Having already heard about the incident on the main road, the Viridian Scholar smiled mischievously as Baek Suryong entered the room. "I heard that you were very persuasive today," he teased.

Baek Suryong pouted. "...Are you being sarcastic?"

"Of course not. I'm being sincere. You really did well."

Baek Suryong's eyes widened in surprise. He had expected a scolding instead of praise. "I heard the guy I knocked out was a secular disciple of Wudang. Won't that cause you trouble later on?"

The Viridian Scholar's smile widened. "Quite the opposite, in fact. Things actually get more troublesome if we don't make an example of idiots every now and then. Besides, after being humiliated by a mere bandit with no martial arts, that boy will try to hide today's incident out of shame. On the other hand, if you killed him, we might have bigger problems. I'm confident the Wudang Sect won't take action, but..."

He paused. As he spoke to Baek Suryong, he came to a sudden realization. Somehow, the Viridian Forest's garments fit the slender man perfectly, and a new stain even marred the scabbard at his waist.

He nodded approvingly, then continued, "...The merchant and his employees will spread rumors that a newcomer to the Yama Keep took down a master of the orthodox sects with a single blow. That's enough. The story will spread to the surrounding trading companies and escort agencies, and increase their fear of the Yama Keep."

Baek Suryong's eyes widened in admiration. The Viridian Scholar hadn't been there, but he grasped the entire situation and its consequences perfectly. Curious, he asked, "Did you invite me to join you for a day because you knew something like this was going to happen?"

The Viridian Scholar shrugged and answered honestly, "I knew a merchant caravan would be passing through the main road today, and I figured the Azure Dragon Hero wouldn't commit murder for no good reason. Still, I never expected you to bash the fool's head in with a spit-covered blunt weapon."

"...You know, I was initially worried because I thought there were only kind and naive bandits in the Yama Keep. Thankfully, I don't think I need to worry with you here, Boss."

Baek Suryong uses the Heaven Defying Divine Art on you and beats you to a pulp.

The Viridian Scholar burst out laughing, "Hahaha! You're the first person I've met who has worried about us!"

He pushed aside the documents on his desk. He had rushed to finish his work just to attend the unorthodox sects' meeting.

Upon seeing the enormous pile, Baek Suryong felt a sense of camaraderie born of shared suffering. He sat down opposite the Viridian Scholar.

"So... what do you think about the Viridian Forest after experiencing it yourself?" the Viridian Scholar asked.

"The business is quite systematic."

The Viridian Scholar nodded, brimming with pride over all he had achieved. "We manage the mountain trails for the convenience of travelers, and we collect fair payment for it. We're careful to ensure that our customers never feel like they were robbed."

Long ago, the Bandit King had dreamed of making the Viridian Forest a great sect on par with the Nine Sects One Gang. Now, the Viridian Scholar intended to achieve that dream in his own way.

Baek Suryong honestly shared his thoughts. "The middle path and the small path were quite impressive. The people passing through were mingling with the Yama Keep bandits as if they were friends. Was that intentional?"

The Viridian Scholar nodded, pleased that someone understood him. "Yes, we aim to be friendly to the powerless commonfolk. After all, when they feel safe, they tend to spread good reviews about us to other potential customers. That's also why I showed you the smaller paths first.

"On the other hand, we must take a different approach with those who take the main road, because they are usually armed. Since they can draw their swords at any moment, we have to appear as scary as King Yama himself to them, just like the name of our keep. We must also be prepared to fight when necessary to protect the road."

Baek Suryong nodded. If the Yama Keep showed any weakness on the main road, not only would other bandits covet their territory, the escort agencies and trading companies would also try to haggle or refuse to pay the toll.

Honestly, I think this guy is doing a much better job than Master Maeng.

In the past, the Bandit King united the forces of the Viridian Forest, yet he failed to implement any concrete plans afterward. While prestigious orthodox sects ran businesses and established secular branches to expand their influence, the Viridian Forest was limited to blocking roads and collecting tolls. Even worse, most of its members were poor and uneducated.

"The smart guys will figure out the difficult stuff. Anyway, once I get out of here, I'm definitely gonna make the Viridian Forest a great sect!"

Baek Suryong was convinced that the Viridian Scholar was exactly the kind of smart guy Master Maeng had been looking for.

This translation is free to read. No ads should be visible.

He said carefully, "No offense, but while looking around the Yama Keep's workplaces today, a few business ideas came to mind. Would you like to hear them?"

"Why would I be offended? Rather, I'd be grateful if you could help us improve our business model. Please, speak freely." The Viridian Scholar's eyes sparkled as he leaned toward Baek Suryong, delighted to finally meet a kindred soul.

Baek Suryong began pointing out ways the Yama Keep could expand its offerings, starting with the story of the old woman.

"I met an old woman on the small path. Her dumplings were exquisite. That's when I thought: How about setting up rest stops along the trail and selling simple snacks? If you build trust with the hikers, you could later expand into the inn business."

"......"

"For those who need to cross the mountain quickly or lack stamina, we could provide a transportation service with palanquins or rickshaws for a fee."

"......"

"We could also escort people along the trail to protect them from dangerous beasts like tigers, bears, and boars. Oh, and we can encourage the sale of daily necessities and hiking equipment."

"......"

The Viridian Scholar had started listening with mild interest, but as Baek Suryong rambled on, his eyes gradually widened. By the time the instructor finished talking, he was staring at the man suspiciously.

"...Excuse me if I'm being rude, but has your father ever been a part of the Viridian Forest?"

"No," Baek Suryong replied. Although Baek Muheun was a legendary delinquent, he had no connection to the Viridian Forest.

Dad wouldn't engage in banditry, right? Right...?

For a moment, he imagined Baek Muheun and Mae Yakbing happily running a mountain keep, but quickly shook his head to clear the stray thought.

"I heard about it from Master Maeng. He was someone who cared more about the Viridian Forest than anyone else."

That was the truth. He had indeed heard many stories from the Bandit King in his past life. Most of the plans he just told the Viridian Scholar were things he had thought of during their conversations back then, when he contemplated following Master Maeng to the Viridian Forest after escaping the Blood Cult.

"Hahaha! Kid. You're a genius! From now on, you're the brains of the Viridian Forest!"

"...The future of the jianghu is dark."

Baek Suryong chuckled to himself as he recalled Master Maeng's excited face and Master Crazy Demon sighing in the next cell.

Baek Suryong uses the Heaven Defying Divine Art on you.

"I see!" the Viridian Scholar exclaimed excitedly, but suddenly sighed deeply. "...However, there's one problem. It's not that I haven't thought about the things you've mentioned. In fact, we're implementing a few similar things, but the problem is..."

"A steady supply chain, right?" Baek Suryong finished the thought. "Just dealing with a few small-time peddlers isn't enough."

"That's right," The Viridian Scholar nodded gravely.

Baek Suryong's plans were ultimately focused on generating profit from business with travelers on the Jinggang Mountains. To accomplish this, they required a consistent supply of goods. This made establishing relations with a large trading company essential.

Sighing softly, he lamented, "Unfortunately, no reputable company wants to do business with bandits."

Most of the Ten Great Companies were connected to the Nine Sects One Gang or one of the Five Great Clans, and smaller companies were unwilling to deal with unorthodox sects due to a lack of credibility. Finding a firm willing to take such a huge risk and deal with the Viridian Forest was virtually impossible.

"I've been exploring our options, but so far, we haven't made any significant progress..."

"There's a medium-sized company based in Jiangxi Nanchang called the White Dragon Conglomerate," Baek Suryong suddenly chimed in.

"...Who?"

"Although the White Dragon Conglomerate's not very large yet, it's got great growth potential. Their general manager is very competent, and they have connections with the Golden Dragon Trading Company. They're just preparing to expand their commercial reach to other regions, so the timing is perfect."

The Viridian Scholar's expression stiffened. "Could it be... Are you really suggesting...?"

Baek Suryong grinned and nodded. "I'd like the Yama Keep and the White Dragon Conglomerate to enter into a long-term contract. We'll supply the goods, and the Yama Keep can sell them to travelers passing through the mountains."

"......" The Viridian Scholar fell silent, taken aback by the sudden proposal. He had to carefully calculate the potential profitability of the arrangement.

"I have one question. Are you in a position to make decisions on behalf of the White Dragon Conglomerate?"

"Of course I am. I own it, after all." Google seaʀᴄh novèlfire.net

"Hah! I had a feeling when I heard the name, but..." The Viridian Scholar couldn't help but laugh in disbelief. While he didn't show it, the news shocked him just as much as learning that the Azure Dragon Hero was the Bandit King's disciple.

This isn't just a connection passed down from the Bandit King... Baek Suryong might become the Viridian Forest's greatest benefactor.

This translation is free to read. No ads should be visible.

Still, he didn't jump at the chance. He was concerned for the welfare of the Yama Keep and worried about causing trouble for such a great benefactor.

"If it becomes known that you've made a deal with us, the White Dragon Conglomerate may be ostracized by other businesses. Would that be okay?

Even though merchants were greedy bastards who would jump into a flaming pit for money, having such a rumor go public was a different matter.

Fortunately, Baek Suryong had a plan.

"You don't need to worry about that part."

Once the war between the Blood Cult and the orthodox sects murim began, the world would change completely. The Nine Sects One Gang, and the Five Great Clans would have to lead the war in order to protect their interests. Consequently, the Ten Great Companies they sponsored would inevitably become busy.

After the war, even the names of some of the Ten Great Companies might change. At that time, having a distribution network in the expansive Viridian Forest would be a tremendous asset.

I didn't plan to deal with the Yama Keep from the beginning, but...

After seeing the Yama Keep for himself, Baek Suryong changed his mind. He judged that the place was well worth the investment. If the deal succeeded, he planned to gradually expand the network by signing contracts with not only the Yama Keep but also the mountain keeps under their command.

"The Yama Keep has nothing to lose, so why don't you trust me this once?"

This translation is free to read. No ads should be visible.

Finally, the Viridian Scholar nodded. Baek Suryong was right. The Yama Keep indeed had nothing to lose. The White Dragon Conglomerate was the one making a risky investment.

"Very well. We'll do business with the White Dragon Conglomerate."

The two men drew up and signed a contract on the spot.

"May I offer a few opinions on the future business plan?"

"Of course. Please share your valuable insights."

The two men then continued their conversation for over two hours. Deep and prudent in his thoughts, the Viridian Scholar surprised Baek Suryong with his insights. Clearly, if not for his background, he would have thrived in the civil service.

Suddenly, Baek Suryong wondered, If Master Maeng had someone like the Viridian Scholar by his side, would the history of the Viridian Forest have changed? Would he have avoided getting betrayed by his subordinates and locked up in a Blood Cult prison?

He smiled bitterly. "If we can secure a stable source of income for each keep, then the Viridian Forest could become a proper sect in the future. However, not everyone will agree with this method, will they?"

The Viridian Scholar nodded gravely. "...You're correct."

There were hundreds of mountain keeps scattered across the land. Even counting only the ones with proper forces, there were seventy-two. Called the Seventy-Two Viridian Forest Keeps, they were once united under the banner of the Viridian Forest Alliance, led by the Bandit King Maeng Ho'ak.

Now, though, they were divided into three major factions.

"My influence only extends to about twenty keeps," the Viridian Scholar explained.

The Yama Keep represented one of the three major factions of the Viridian Forest. The other two were the Tiger Pass Keep and the Giant Spirit Keep. He had no influence over them or their followers.

"The bosses of the Tiger Pass Keep and the Giant Spirit Keep are fools who think murder and robbery are virtues."

Baek Suryong uses the Heaven Defying Divine Art on you.

The Viridian Scholar snorted in disdain. He was infamous as one of the Ten Great Villains and widely considered the closest to becoming the next Bandit King, but he wasn't strong enough to overwhelm the other two factions.

Baek Suryong nodded in understanding. He had investigated the power structure of the Viridian Forest before coming here. The bosses of the Tiger Pass Keep and the Giant Spirit Keep both had forces comparable to those of the Yama Keep. However, they were scum who didn't hesitate to kill innocent civilians.

He smirked deviously. "So, about that... How about we persuade them both at the unorthodox sects' meeting?"

Emphasizing the word 'persuade', he lightly tapped the hilt of the Azure Dragon Divine Sword.