Chapter 151
Chapter 151
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: Prosperity Fortress
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Prosperity Fortress.
One of the three major sects dominating the coastal region as of late, it was a fairly large sect boasting at least two hundred disciples.
On top of that, just a few days ago, they had taken the lead over the other two sects by striking a deal first with the pleasure houses along the coast...
But not anymore.
For some reason, Prosperity Fortress had fallen silent afterward.
"If those Black Tiger Gang and Willow Ghost Sect bastards hadn't jumped in late, we could've easily claimed it all, but those guys came all the way here..."
"Why not just fight them? They're the ones barging into land we claimed first and causing a fuss."
The gate guards stationed at Prosperity Fortress's entrance grumbled as they vented their frustrations.
Just a few days earlier, when they allied with Wind Moon Tower, it seemed like Prosperity Fortress was on the verge of seizing control of the entire coast.
But for some reason, the Fortress Lord had no desire to press forward any further.
This left the situation in a deadlock, and even blunted the momentum they had built up.
"The Lord must have his reasons."
"He's always one to deliberate carefully."
As the gate guards thought of the Prosperity Fortress Lord and tried to view things in the best light possible,
Thud— thud—
they turned at the sound of approaching footsteps.
There stood a familiar face.
"...The young sect leader of One Flower Sect?"
"Why's that punk here?"
"Pfft, hahaha, he couldn't be here for revenge, could h—"
The gate guard who had burst into mocking laughter froze, his expression stiffening as he lost his words.
It was because of the robes worn by the three following behind him.
White robes emblazoned with red plum blossoms.
There was only one place in the world that could wear such robes.
"...Mount Hua Sect?!"
"What the hell!"
By the time they panicked,
"This is Prosperity Fortress, right?"
Cheonhwi, standing before the gate guards, looked down at them and asked softly.
The gate guards swallowed hard as they glanced at each other while staring at Cheonhwi.
Jukoyul met their eyes squarely—something he would have avoided in the past—and spoke up.
"Instead of answering the question, what are you staring at?"
The sight of Jukoyul, who used to cower behind others trembling, speaking so boldly made them grind their teeth.
'That bastard!'
'Strutting around like that!'
The gate guards seethed at the thought of him relying on Mount Hua Sect's Daoists for protection.
Just as they glared at Jukoyul as if to kill him with their eyes alone,
Thud—
Cheonhwi took a single step forward.
In an instant, the distance closed, and he stood right before their noses.
"Hup!"
"...!"
Greatly flustered, the two broke into cold sweats as they looked up at Cheonhwi.
"So, is this Prosperity Fortress? Or not?"
"Y-Yes, it is."
"Hm. So this is Prosperity Fortress."
In that moment, Cheonhwi's aura shifted dramatically.
The gate guards gulped nervously and took a slight step back.
"...Wh-What business does Mount Hua Sect have visiting our humble fortress...?"
"What business? Guess."
Cheonhwi sneered.
"To collect the price for touching one of our sect's secular branches."
With those words, he kicked one of the gate guards.
Thwack!
With a dull thud, the gate guard flew back and crashed into the gate behind him.
Krunch!
The remaining gate guard whipped his head around.
There lay the kicked guard, collapsed under the shattered debris with a clear footprint stamped on his stomach.
'A-An expert...!'
As he broke into cold sweat,
"What's going on?!"
"What's all the commotion?!"
People poured out from inside.
Their appearances were all fiercely intimidating, most bearing deliberate scars on their faces.
Cheonhwi spoke upon seeing them.
"You two handle these guys."
This time, rather than stepping in himself, he intended to let the pair gain some real combat experience.
'Can't keep doing it for them forever.'
Jeokgeom and Seollan's eyes gleamed.
"Understood."
"Yes."
The two drew their swords.
Shing—
As the sharp blades of their white lotus swords gleamed in the open air, the foes grimaced.
"Those guys..."
"Mount Hua Sect Daoists."
"And..."
All eyes turned to Jukoyul.
"He must've brought them."
As they began to raise their killing intent,
Tap.
Cheonhwi lightly pushed off the ground.
Soaring high into the air, he flew past them and into the building.
"Grab that guy!"
The moment someone shouted,
Halt—
they froze in place.
Not by their own will, but by force.
Suddenly crushed by an overwhelming pressure, their gazes turned toward its source.
There stood Jeokgeom and Seollan.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Your opponents are us."
Murmuring softly, the two raised their swords and unleashed their auras.
"These bastards!"
"They've lost their minds."
"You dare look down on us?!"
Seeing the two blocking their path, they gripped their weapons tightly and launched their assault.
"I'll take the left."
"Got it."
Seollan and Jeokgeom steadied their breaths.
Their eyes grew calm as the charging foes filled their vision.
"Slow."
"They're slow."
Thanks to the trials at Plum Blossom Hall,
the two moved simultaneously toward opponents who now seemed agonizingly sluggish.
Slash!
"...Those are the Plum Blossom Sword Guards."
Jukoyul stared blankly at the scene.
Jeokgeom and Seollan were toying completely with dozens of enemies.
Every time the two swung their swords, warriors scattered like leaves in the autumn wind. Clutching his chest unconsciously, he thought,
'If only I'd had that power...'
Then he wouldn't have needed to beg for help; he could've handled it himself.
But that was mere fantasy.
'All because I neglected my martial arts training.'
He bit his lip.
Despite his father's nagging to train, he had played around every day.
p>Of course, there was a time when he trained diligently too.
But the moment he saw disciples from other major sects practicing their supreme arts, he gave up everything and just wandered around playing.
No matter how hard he trained, he knew he couldn't even touch the toes of those who practiced supreme arts.
Yet now, he fell silent.
What were these Plum Blossom Sword Guards displaying before him?
Supreme sword techniques?
Far from it.
They were the Profound Heaven Sword Art and Six Harmonies Sword Art, which he knew well.
Their footwork was the same.
Seven Stars Step, which he had also learned.
Of course, their movements were different.
But that was merely the difference in proficiency with Seven Stars Step.
'...I'll start over from the beginning.'
As Jukoyul resolved himself watching Jeokgeom and Seollan,
"Is that him?"
Cheonhwi kicked open the door.
Bang!
The door shattered, and the man inside furrowed his brow.
"Who the hell are you?"
Instead of answering, Cheonhwi locked eyes with the man.
"Are you the Lord of Prosperity Fortress?"
"You little brat have no manners... Hup!"
The Prosperity Fortress Lord, about to bellow loudly, spotted Cheonhwi suddenly appearing before him and recoiled as if seeing a ghost.
"Just answer the question."
The subtle pressure in his voice.
His gaze quickly confirmed the robes Cheonhwi wore.
'Plum blossoms...? Damn it!'
The Fortress Lord instantly realized the young man before him was no ordinary figure.
'If I resist, I'm dead!'
His long-honed instincts for survival in the jianghu screamed the warning.
Obey him unconditionally!
He immediately rubbed his hands together.
"Ha, haha. Yes, I am the Lord of Prosperity Fortress. Great hero, what brings you to our humble fortress?"
Cheonhwi was dumbfounded by the Fortress Lord suddenly groveling and smiling.
"Huh? Weren't you about to attack?"
"Goodness! How could a lowly wretch like me dare attack a great hero like you?"
Cheonhwi couldn't help but admire him.
Among all he'd met so far, this was the quickest to surrender.
And he was signaling no will to fight while humbling himself.
"You're sharp."
"Ha, haha. I've always heard that about me."
The Fortress Lord scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly.
"B-But, great hero, what brings you to Prosperity Fortress...?"
"To kill you."
The Fortress Lord's face drained of color.
"Gr-Great hero! What good would killing a wretch like me do? Please spare me!"
"...But I'm rethinking it for now."
He bowed his head at Cheonhwi's words.
"Thank you! Great hero! For sparing this lowly wretch..."
"I didn't say I'd spare you. I just said I'm thinking about it."
Cheonhwi said indifferently as he plopped down into the chair beside the man.
Then, glancing up, he added,
"My neck hurts looking up at you."
"Oh dear!"
The Fortress Lord dropped to his knees in a flash.
"My thinking was truly lacking."
"Sure seemed like it."
'This damn kid!'
The Fortress Lord burned with rage inside but plastered a smile on his face.
"Ha, haha. Next time, I'll think harder before acting."
"Think you can with that brain?"
"I'll... try my best."
'I'm way smarter than you, you brute who solves everything with force!'
As he inwardly cursed Cheonhwi,
"You messed with One Flower Sect, right?"
"N-No, we didn't!"
The Fortress Lord shook his head vigorously.
"How could we touch a branch sect of the great Mount Hua Sect?"
"Then why's One Flower Sect in that state?"
"That was the doing of those Black Tiger Gang and Willow Ghost Sect bastards, not us!"
"You sure?"
"Absolutely!"
The Fortress Lord shouted emphatically.
"How can I believe that?"
"Unlike our Prosperity Fortress, Black Tiger Gang and Willow Ghost Sect have backers watching their backs. That's why they fearlessly touch Mount Hua Sect's branch!"
The Fortress Lord spilled all the information he'd gained from his Wind Moon Tower alliance.
"Hm, backers, huh?"
"Yes!"
"Where?"
"Even I don't know the details..."
His trustworthiness skyrocketed at those words.
'This complicates things.'
Cheonhwi stroked his chin.
He'd originally planned to wipe out all three sects, but the situation had changed.
If two had backers, exterminating them wouldn't end it.
'Even if I wipe them out, they'll just push another sect forward to cause trouble...'
As he pondered, the fidgeting Fortress Lord entered his view.
At the same time, Cheonhwi's smile deepened.
"Don't you want to take control of the coast?"
The Fortress Lord's eyes widened.
"Wh-What do you mean?"
"Just answer."
"Of course I do!"
"Good. I'm planning to wipe out Black Tiger Gang and Willow Ghost Sect this time."
The Fortress Lord's eyes bulged.
"Bl-Black Tiger Gang and Willow Ghost Sect?"
"Yeah."
Cheonhwi fixed him with a stare.
"You can clean up the rest, right?"
"Of c-course! Just give me the chance, and I'll handle everything!"
A smile spread across the Fortress Lord's lips.
'They say crisis breeds opportunity!'
Grinning broadly, he bowed repeatedly lest Cheonhwi change his mind.
"Thank you for the opportunity!"
"But don't even think about touching One Flower Sect again. And tell your disciples to stop wandering around armed to the teeth. It's not like they're showing off weapons for fun."
"Understood!"
The Fortress Lord nodded vigorously.
It was a small price for claiming the coast.
As he answered gladly,
"And stop collecting protection money."
"P-Pardon...?"
Stunned by the follow-up, the Fortress Lord faltered.
What kind of thunderbolt was that?!
"B-But great hero, without collecting money, we can't run Prosperity Fortress."
"That's for you to figure out. Not my problem."
At Cheonhwi's irresponsible words, the Fortress Lord stared in disbelief.
"Gr-Great hero, even so, that's too difficul—"
"Can't do it? Oh well then."
As Cheonhwi reached for his sword,
"...We'll manage. Haha. On second thought, it seems plenty doable."
The Fortress Lord forced an awkward laugh.
"Right?"
"Y-Yes, of course it's possible."
"I thought so too."
Cheonhwi smiled as he rose from his seat.
Watching him, the Fortress Lord felt like shedding bloody tears.
'This ruthless bastard!'
But it didn't end there.
"And if anything happens to One Flower Sect, you're obligated to help no matter what."
"...Pardon? We're an unorthodox sect."
"So?"
Cheonhwi asked flatly.
"Ha, haha. J-Just kidding. Of course we'll help!"
The resigned man replied.
'I just need to tidy up Prosperity Fortress quick and run...'
As he trembled in fury and recalled his final plan,
"Oh, right. Don't even think about running."
Cheonhwi said coldly.
Thinking his mind had been read, the Fortress Lord panicked and waved his hands frantically.
"R-Run? Never crossed my mind!"
"Come on, I trust you."
"Ha, haha! Thank you for trusting this lowly wretch, great hero."
"But you never know with the world, right?"
Chills ran down the Fortress Lord's back at the meaningful words.
"Wh-What do you mean...?"
Cheonhwi twisted his lips into a smirk.
"Just in case, I sprinkled some Thousand-Li Scent on you."
Cheonhwi pulled out a vial and shook it.
'It's an empty vial I picked up on the way...'
Pure bluff.
'No choice but to fall for it.'
The current Fortress Lord would believe it utterly.
And as expected,
"...Ha, haha. You got me, great hero."
Cold sweat dripped down the Fortress Lord's back.
'Damn! Where'd he get such precious Thousand-Li Scent to use here?!'
Shadows fell over his face.
No running now—he was completely leashed.
Cheonhwi rose from the chair, looking at the dejected man.
"Well, I'll be off then."
"...T-Take care, great hero."
Gritting his teeth, he bowed.
"Got it. I'll check back next time."
At the mention of a return visit, the Fortress Lord jumped in alarm and shouted energetically,
"N-No need to worry!"
"Good."
The moment Cheonhwi vanished,
"Ughhh!"
The Fortress Lord, having lost everything, collapsed to the floor and pounded it with his fists.
It was infuriating—too infuriating.
After decades as a wandering swordsman in the jianghu, risking his life to amass wealth and found a sect, and this was his fate.
Utterly penniless.
"That demon-like bastard took everything I'd saved my whole life in an instant..."
As he lamented, he glanced up at the voice he heard.
"Great hero...?"
"Demon-like bastard? That me?"
"Th-That was..."
"Guess I need to show you a real demon."
As Cheonhwi approached, cracking his knuckles lightly, the Fortress Lord's face turned ashen.
"This is why you need a good thrashing once to make things easier down the line."