NOVEL WEB Chapter 37
Chapter 37
—–CROW—–
Luochuan County, Shaanxi Province.
Famous for its nightlife, the streets of Luochuan County were always bustling with all sorts of people engaged in lively conversations.
Waiters and women soliciting customers.
Prostitutes enticing from brothels.
And those captivated by their allure.
The night streets of Luochuan County were brighter than daytime and far more vibrant than any other county.
“I think I’ll go see Xiang-i tonight.”
“Ah, you’re thinking of seeing Xiang-i again? Let’s go to the Fenghua Pavilion tonight instead.”
“Fenghua Pavilion? Is it good?”
“No need for words! Follow me!”
The faces of those conversing were flushed with excitement. Normally, they should have already left Luochuan County to continue their business.
But having experienced the nightlife, they couldn’t bring themselves to leave.
The alluring and captivating night streets.
Perhaps because it was too stimulating for them, merchants that they were, they were not only completely captivated by the nightlife but also consumed by it.
They weren’t the only ones.
Most of those who stayed in Luochuan for extended periods were like them.
“Sir, come this way.”
“We have delicious food here.”
The brothels and inns on the streets were actively soliciting customers, and even newcomers quickly blended into the nightlife.
The vitality and lust of the people burned brightly, pushing back the encroaching darkness.
Luochuan was filled with energy.
But even in such a lively street, there was a strangely quiet and cold place.
Right in the center of the street.
In Luochuan, there existed a castle, larger and more expansive than any other building.
Despite being at the heart of the bustling street, the castle was silent, and not a single light shone from within.
A starkly contrasting scene.
Yet, no one found the castle strange or mentioned it.
Or rather, they deliberately pretended not to notice.
In fact, everyone who lived in Luochuan, or even those who had visited the area briefly, knew about the castle.
The only martial arts clan in Luochuan.
The clan that had shaped and now controlled Luochuan.
Most of those staying in Luochuan would say this:
The White Ghost, the emperor of Luochuan, resided in that castle.
***
Inside a massive room, ornately decorated with gold-painted pillars and walls.
Thud.
A man knelt on one knee.
Sima Fan-zheng, a strategist of the Hundred Ghosts Castle, known in the martial world as the White Ghost Strategist, looked up at the ornate throne situated high above.
The throne, shaped like a golden dragon, was as magnificent as any found in the imperial palace.
And a man sat comfortably on the throne, leaning back.
The man’s appearance was mystical.
Everything about him was white.
His hair, his beard, even his clothes.
Anyone who saw him would instantly understand why he was called the White Ghost.
Then, Sima Fan-zheng spoke,
“Castle Lord.”
With those words, the man’s identity was revealed.
The only person Sima Fan-zheng addressed as Castle Lord was the leader of the Hundred Ghosts Castle, known by some as the White Ghost.
The man sitting on the throne was the one known in the martial world as the White Death God.
The White Death God glanced down and spoke,
“What is it, Strategist?”
Unlike his appearance, his voice was deep and low, like an echo resonating from a deep cave.
“Wasn’t sending the entire Soul Slaughter Squad to the Swift Wind Trading Company excessive?”
“Excessive? What is excessive?”
“The Soul Slaughter Squad’s strength is enough to easily wipe out a small or medium-sized clan. Even though Cold-Faced Swordsman’s plan failed, it’s still just a trading company.”
“You’re saying their strength is excessive.”
“That’s right. Of course, the Plum Blossom Swordsmen are there to protect them, but according to Eun-su-chamsal, they are all just youngsters.”
Sima Fan-zheng paused, seemingly catching his breath, and continued,
“Of course, the culprit who destroyed the Hegemon Clan is a bit concerning, but Eun-su-chamsal said that the culprit was an expert from an evil sect. That means the Swift Wind Trading Company and the culprit are unrelated…”
“Strategist.”
The White Death God interrupted him.
“Do you remember how much we’ve suffered? The power and reputation of our castle, which was almost at the top of the Six Grand Sects, plummeted after that day, and we had to stay hidden in this Luochuan County for years, as if we were in seclusion… And not only that, Strategist.”
Sima Fan-zheng lifted his chin.
He understood that the White Death God’s call was a cue for him to speak.
“The other Six Grand Sects started to ignore us, and the insignificant ones who couldn’t even meet our eyes before are now eyeing our position.”
“The plan we devised to annihilate the Mount Hua Sect, who should be chewed up and spat out, and to silence those who ignored us…”
“Is the Mount Hua Annihilation Plan.”
Sima Fan-zheng finished the White Death God’s sentence.
The White Death God, satisfied with his response, revealed his pearly white teeth.
“You know very well how important the Mount Hua Annihilation Plan is.”
The White Death God rested his chin on his hand and continued,
“Originally, the Mount Hua Annihilation Plan wasn’t supposed to start now, but we had no choice but to move it forward. And you know very well why we did that.”
Sima Fan-zheng nodded heavily.
The Mount Hua Annihilation Plan, which they had been working on for over ten years after that day’s disaster, was originally scheduled for next year or the year after.
But recent events at the Swift Wind Trading Company forced them to expedite it.
The Swift Wind Trading Company, which they had considered merely bait to lure out the Mount Hua Sect, had shown remarkable skill and established a trade route with the Northern Sea.
As if that wasn’t enough,
They were even attempting to connect with the government through their trade with the Northern Sea.
If left unchecked, the government would intervene before they could even initiate the Mount Hua Annihilation Plan.
The White Death God averted his gaze.
“But it failed from the start.”
“However, sending the entire Soul Slaughter Squad could disrupt future plans…”
“However?”
The White Death God interrupted Sima Fan-zheng.
His voice turned cold as he leaned forward, lifting himself from the backrest.
Sima Fan-zheng trembled as he met the White Death God’s burning gaze.
Thump—
The air in the room suddenly grew heavy.
“We failed to lay the foundation for the Mount Hua Annihilation Plan, and you say ‘however’?”
“…”
Sima Fan-zheng closed his mouth.
Not only was the pressure directed at him immense, but he had no counterargument.
In the silence, the White Death God spoke,
“It seems you’re mistaken because I’ve waited for thirteen years…”
His gaze turned icy.
“I’m less patient than you think.”
Sima Fan-zheng’s Adam’s apple bobbed.
He spoke cautiously,
“Without the Hegemon Clan, if we destroy the Swift Wind Trading Company, our involvement will be exposed.”
“It doesn’t matter if we’re exposed now. It was inevitable that our identity would be revealed eventually, so it doesn’t matter if it happens sooner.”
The White Death God replied indifferently.
Things had deviated slightly from the original Mount Hua Annihilation Plan, but the arrow had already left the bow.
“…I understand. Then I will modify the Mount Hua Annihilation Plan accordingly.”
Sima Fan-zheng stepped back.
He was the strategist, and the White Death God was the Castle Lord.
All decisions rested with the White Death God.
Whoosh—
As Sima Fan-zheng turned to leave the room, the White Death God called out,
“Strategist.”
“Yes, Castle Lord?”
“I’ve told you this many times, but the Mount Hua Annihilation Plan is just the beginning. Our true goal begins after we annihilate Mount Hua and Mount Zhongnan and take control of Shaanxi. Don’t forget that.”
“…I know, Castle Lord.”
Sima Fan-zheng replied softly.
As he said, their true beginning, their grand scheme, started after they seized control of Shaanxi.
That was why he, the sole survivor of the Sima Clan, had submitted to the White Death God.
They had reached a dramatic compromise.
But they didn’t know.
How naive they were about the events unfolding in Xianyang County.
They realized the gravity of the situation a few days later.
***
“They say we should back off because it’s a conflict between evil sects… They have no idea how dangerous the culprit is.”
Ha Woo-jin wore a complicated expression as he read the reply from the Mount Zhongnan Sect.
He felt that the traces left by the culprit who destroyed the Hegemon Clan were too significant to ignore, but the Mount Zhongnan Sect was completely oblivious to the danger.
Of course, he understood.
‘The culprit disappeared after that day, so it’s only natural…’
A bitter smile formed on his lips.
He thought he would have felt the same if he hadn’t witnessed it himself.
Who would believe it?
That the Hegemon Clan, a rising power, albeit a new one, had been destroyed by a single person?
And without a trace of martial arts.
‘Perhaps the elders think I couldn’t find any traces because I’m not familiar with the martial arts of evil sects.’
Ha Woo-jin tucked the letter into his robe.
He sensed that the Mount Zhongnan Sect had lost interest the moment he read the reply.
‘At least the Beggars’ Sect is paying attention.’
He recalled the Beggars’ Sect members who had been secretly coming and going from the Hegemon Clan and shook his head, hurrying on his way.
Since the Mount Zhongnan Sect had not only withdrawn their support but also lost interest, he had to gather information on his own.
Step— Step—
His steps were directed towards a place related to the culprit.
The Swift Wind Trading Company.
It was the place attacked the day before the Hegemon Clan’s annihilation, and currently the most suspicious location connected to the culprit.
Especially after witnessing the Swift Wind Trading Company’s rapid growth after the Hegemon Clan’s fall, his suspicions only grew stronger.
The Swift Wind Trading Company had suffered significant losses from the Hegemon Clan’s attack and had been teetering on the brink of collapse, but the situation had reversed.
As soon as the Hegemon Clan was annihilated, the Swift Wind Trading Company, as if waiting for this moment, absorbed their territories and various businesses.
‘People are saying they’re now close to becoming the number one trading company in Shaanxi.’
He recalled recent events.
Xianyang County had been in chaos for days.
Fights over the Hegemon Clan’s former territories continued, and the common people lived in fear.
That’s when the Swift Wind Trading Company stepped in.
Normally, they would have been ignored as a trading company, not a martial arts clan, but as mentioned before,
The Plum Blossom Swordsmen were staying there.
‘Even though the Mount Hua Sect has weakened, the only ones comparable to them in Shaanxi are our sect and the Hundred Ghosts Castle.’
The victor was predetermined.
The Swift Wind Trading Company quickly absorbed the businesses and traded with the leaders of each clan to divide the troublesome assets.
He grew suspicious as the Swift Wind Trading Company seemed to have everything go their way, but
‘That can’t be.’
He concluded that they were unrelated to the culprit.
The Swift Wind Trading Company was a trading company, not a clan.
It was impossible for an absolute master who single-handedly destroyed the Hegemon Clan to be under their employ.
Furthermore,
The Swift Wind Trading Company had always been under the protection of the Mount Hua Sect, so the presence of an expert from an evil sect was absurd.
Nevertheless, he had a reason to visit the Swift Wind Trading Company.
‘The Hegemon Clan’s attack on the Swift Wind Trading Company might be related to the culprit.’
It was a slim possibility.
But in the current situation, with no other clues, it was the most promising lead.
As he quickened his pace and approached the gate of the Swift Wind Trading Company, the sound of an argument reached his ears.
“S-So, you’re saying you’re a Taoist priest from Mount Hua Sect?”
“That’s right.”
The gatekeepers trembled as they looked up at the large man in red and white robes.
The man had a rather fierce appearance.
His hair was disheveled, a faint scar ran across his cheek, and his eyes were narrowed, giving him a sharp glare that made even the gatekeepers, who prided themselves on their fearlessness, lower their heads.
‘Is that a Taoist priest?’
The gatekeepers exchanged glances and shook their heads.
He was wearing a Taoist robe, but he looked like a bandit who had simply picked it up and put it on.
“…How can you prove that?”
The gatekeeper on the left asked cautiously.
The man frowned.
“Do I need proof?”
The gatekeeper flinched as the scar on the man’s cheek twisted.
“I-I can’t let you in without confirmation.”
The man, realizing that the gatekeepers were frightened, softened his expression and looked troubled.
But that was a mistake.
The change in expression only made him look more menacing, and the gatekeepers hurriedly drew their swords.
“A-Are you trying to attack the Swift Wind Trading Company?”
“No, I just said I’m a Taoist priest.”
The man pounded his chest in frustration.
Then, as if remembering something, his eyes lit up, and he spoke,
“Then, is the Trading Company Leader inside? Or I can call the Plum Blossom Swordsmen or Cheon-hwi. They would…”
The man seemed to be listing those who could verify his identity, but it only frightened the gatekeepers further.
“You came here so boldly, knowing that the Plum Blossom Swordsmen are here?!”
“…This is giving me a headache.”
As the man pressed his hand to his forehead, seemingly suffering from a headache,
‘That face…’
Ha Woo-jin, who had been watching the whole scene from behind, widened his eyes.
The man’s face was very familiar.
His hair was streaked with gray, and the wrinkles on his face were deeper than before, but the scar on his cheek and his fierce appearance were the same.
“Senior Disciple Hyeon-do…?”
—–CROW—–
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