Chapter 181
Chapter 181
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 181
Chapter Title: Wind Moon Tower
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Wind Moon Tower.
The pinnacle of the grandest and tallest pleasure house in all of Shaanxi—four men and women had gathered there.
Golden Treasury Mansion Lord.
Death Willow Valley Lord.
Soul Subduing Sect Leader.
And the woman who had come from the Four Ghosts Chamber.
Excluding the woman of unknown origins, the lords of the Shen Zhou Four Evils—who had been shaking Shaanxi to its core—were assembled together.
The Golden Treasury Mansion Lord stared at the woman who had entered in place of the Four Ghosts Chamber Lord and spoke first.
"I summoned the Four Ghosts Chamber Lord, yet..."
"As you know, our lord is injured."
The woman's lips curved into a smile.
With just that slight bend of her emotionless lips, a venomous aura permeated the air.
"I had no choice but to come in her stead. But don't worry. She has already granted me full authority."
Her voice was too low for a woman.
Yet the three sect leaders listening to it felt their lips go dry.
'So even the Four Ghosts Chamber has a backer.'
'At this rate, we're all just puppets!'
'Damn it! I didn't expect her to come in person.'
The three men's eyes twitched.
They knew well that the title of Shen Zhou Four Evils, exalted in the jianghu, was not a feat they had achieved through their own power.
Fox borrowing the tiger's might.
They merely borrowed the prestige of those behind them; in truth, their strength was no different from that of petty unorthodox riffraff.
But this woman was different.
She was no fox—she was the tiger itself.
"More importantly, we don't have much time. Shall we get to the agenda?"
The woman, who had instantly seized control of the room's atmosphere, licked her lips and continued.
"Our lord is still unwell, so I need to return soon."
The Golden Treasury Mansion Lord's expression soured at her mocking tone, but he shook his head with a sigh.
'Sigh. What's the point of arguing? We're already in the palm of their hands.'
He, who had been scowling, finally spoke.
"Very well."
Without further ado, the Golden Treasury Mansion Lord cut straight to the purpose of the meeting.
"I called you all here for one reason. Will you join forces with me?"
The Death Willow Valley Lord narrowed his eyes.
"Are you suggesting we form an alliance?"
The Soul Subduing Sect Leader followed, his face showing clear displeasure at the proposal.
"There isn't enough trust between us for that."
The Golden Treasury Mansion Lord nodded.
"I know. How could we build trust among ourselves? Empty shells like us."
His words were calm.
But the expressions of the other two twisted, their brows furrowing.
He had struck at the heart of the matter.
"What are you trying to say?"
"What exactly do you mean?"
Their voices rose slightly.
The Golden Treasury Mansion Lord gazed steadily at the pair and murmured softly.
"Even empty shells must unite to stand against Zhongnan and Mount Hua, no?"
"......"
"......"
As the two fell silent, the woman chuckled.
"Hehe, that sounds good."
She seemed pleased with how things were unfolding, twirling her hair with a smile playing across her face.
"The Four Ghosts Chamber agrees."
With the woman giving her assent first, the Death Willow Valley Lord and Soul Subduing Sect Leader furrowed their brows.
The Golden Treasury and Four Ghosts Chamber uniting left them with no choice.
Join forces together.
Or fight alone.
And naturally, their choice was the safer path.
"An inevitable decision, it seems."
"Tch. Fine."
The two grumbled but agreed. The woman twisted her lips into a smirk and asked,
"So, what now? We've allied, but are we just going to sit idle until Zhongnan and Mount Hua make their move?"
The Golden Treasury Mansion Lord stared at her.
Even under his sharp gaze, the woman met his eyes with composed ease.
"Or will we strike first?"
For an instant, the room seemed to tremble.
No, it hadn't actually shaken.
But the sudden sinking feeling in the chests of the three had created the illusion of it.
Her voice, infused with inner energy, was enough to rattle them, but the implications of her words were no less daunting.
Uniting to guard against Zhongnan and Mount Hua was one thing; launching a preemptive strike was entirely different.
A brief silence fell.
No one wanted to rashly answer her question.
They exchanged cautious glances for a moment.
"Not right now."
The Golden Treasury Mansion Lord, having gathered his thoughts, spoke with a grave expression.
"With our current strength, pushing back Zhongnan and Mount Hua would be difficult. Why not absorb all the mid- and small sects in Shaanxi first, then move?"
The tense expressions of the Death Willow Valley Lord and Soul Subduing Sect Leader eased slightly.
"Good."
"I agree."
The two nodded approvingly, and the Golden Treasury Mansion Lord turned to the woman, who hadn't yet responded.
"What about you?"
She curled her lips upward.
"Let's do that."
"Then we're all in agreement on this pact."
As the Golden Treasury Mansion Lord murmured softly, the woman rose from her seat and spoke.
"Oh, right! I have things to attend to, so I'll head out first. Contact me 'separately' once preparations are ready."
She emphasized "separately" with a thread of energy and winked playfully.
Then—
Ssslruk—
She vanished in an instant.
A ghostly disappearance.
"......!"
The three flinched in shock but held their breath, refraining from rash actions.
How long did they remain frozen?
As the heavy aura filling the room dissipated, their bodies slumped back into their chairs.
"Hoo."
"Nearly died."
"Haa."
Exhaling the breath that had risen to their throats with effort, the three eyed each other.
Their fatigued gazes were filled with shared misery, pity, and bitterness.
After exchanging looks for a moment, they smiled wryly and rose simultaneously.
"I'll call upon you later."
"I'll be waiting."
"Until next time."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Following the meeting at Wind Moon Tower,
a bloody storm began to rage across Shaanxi.
The Shen Zhou Four Evils, who had kept their heads down after being repelled by Zhongnan and Mount Hua, now raised them high. They showed no mercy.
"They're insane."
"Are the Shen Zhou Four Evils trying to wage full-scale war against Mount Hua and Zhongnan?!"
"They're avoiding the orthodox-affiliated sects, so maybe they're just steering clear?"
"Even so, will Zhongnan and Mount Hua sit idly by while they're steamrolling like this? A clash is inevitable."
"Those mad fools are begging for death."
Everyone thought the Shen Zhou Four Evils' actions were like throwing eggs at a rock.
But a day, two days, three, four...
About forty days later,
they changed their minds.
The Shen Zhou Four Evils' moves were more calculated and swift than anticipated.
The sects, pleasure houses, and gambling dens under White Ghost Castle's influence quickly fell under their control.
Some mid- and small sects crumbled helplessly before their assaults.
Even White Ghost Castle had taken at least five years to absorb all of Shaanxi's unorthodox groups—a monumental task.
Yet their speed was incomparable.
No matter that they were lesser unorthodox sects and mid-sized groups under White Ghost Castle—the Shen Zhou Four Evils had subjugated them all in just two short months.
Only then did everyone realize the Four Evils were no ordinary foes, but by then, their reach had already spread far.
As if poised to swallow all of Shaanxi, save Zhongnan, Mount Hua, and their orthodox allies.
And the ripples reached even Mount Hua Sect, which had been quietly biding its time.
At Mount Hua's mountain gate, leaders from orthodox-affiliated sects near Huayin County and various mid- and small sect heads had gathered en masse.
"We need Mount Hua's power!"
Zhenwu Hall Master shouted.
He was seething inside.
The Shen Zhou Four Evils' raid had burned his Zhenwu Hall to the ground, forcing his family into hiding.
And he wasn't alone.
Most gathered here had suffered similarly—halls burned or seized by the Four Evils.
"Sect Leader!"
"Please help our sect!"
"Shaanxi is in peril at this rate!"
Pleading cries poured out.
The Sect Leader, facing the bowing leaders, looked troubled.
"Hmm..."
But only for a moment.
"...Come inside for now."
His face etched with conflict, the Sect Leader seemed to resolve himself and opened the mountain gate.
The bowing men’s eyes sparkled like stars, their faces breaking into broad grins.
Being invited in meant he intended to hear them out.
That’s what they thought.
Kiiiek—
Mount Hua's gate swung open, and the sight before them left some breathless.
No wonder it was Mount Hua.
The mountain path was steep and treacherous.
Even for martial artists like them, it looked grueling to ascend.
"Follow closely."
The Sect Leader took a step forward.
In that instant, they rubbed their eyes.
The Sect Leader, who had been right in front moments ago, had reached the mountainside with a single stride.
"Heh!"
"How is he so fast...!"
All were stunned.
And satisfaction spread across their lips.
"The Sect Leader's skill surpasses his reputation!"
"We came to the right place."
Exchanging glances, they stepped onto the lofty path.
How far had they climbed?
"...Hoo."
Rough breaths echoed here and there.
Mount Hua's path was rugged.
And steep.
Each step was a struggle.
Especially past the midpoint—their faces lost all composure.
Then Zhenwu Hall Master halted.
They had reached the end of the path.
"Hoo. Finally... Huh?!"
Catching his breath, he looked up and trailed off.
"What's wrong?"
"Something happen?"
Those following eyed the suddenly frozen Hall Master curiously, then stiffened upon seeing ahead themselves.
Dozens of Taoists stood in formation, emanating a razor-sharp aura that stung their throats just looking at them.
"...So this is Mount Hua Sect."
"Such an intense presence."
Their voices quivered slightly.
The Taoists' peculiar formation evoked the image of a divine sword, exuding immense pressure.
"With this level of prowess, even the Shen Zhou Four Evils..."
"We can have our revenge."
As their faces brightened,
"Formation set?"
A nonchalant voice rang out.
Following it, they spotted a handsome young man with a sheathed sword slung over his shoulder.
The young man was gesturing at the Taoists forming up.
"Then come at me."
Everyone stared at him in confusion.
"Who is that?"
"Challenging that sword formation alone?"
As they gawked in bewilderment,
Swoosh—
The young man properly raised his sheathed sword, and the atmosphere shifted.
"......!"
The onlookers' eyes widened.
An overwhelming presence and energy, unyielding even against dozens of Taoists.
"Since when did Mount Hua have someone like him?!"
"No wonder it's Mount Hua Sect."
As they reeled from the unprecedented intensity,
"Hoo, here I go."
Red Sword and the Secret Sword Squad members in formation met his resolute gaze.
He raised his sword high.
A sky-splitting momentum erupted as Red Sword bellowed.
"Haaap!"
With a mighty roar, the Secret Sword Squad charged at Cheonhwi in unison.
"Inner energy distribution is finally decent."
The young man—Cheonhwi—sighed at the formation unfolding with spirit.
"Sigh. So straightforward."
Casually remarking, Cheonhwi swung his sheathed sword.
Whoosh!
Dozens of sword shadows materialized, striking the vigilant foes' heads.
Thud thud thud!
They tumbled to the ground.
"Hup! H-How?!"
"We formed it perfectly...!"
As the Secret Sword Squad panicked, Cheonhwi clicked his tongue.
"Tsk tsk. Perfect? Nothing in this world is perfect. Didn't I tell you before? Be more flexible. Don't just charge in with the Secret Sword Formation—mix in irregular attacks."
"Kuh!"
"Argh!"
Even as he lectured, Cheonhwi swung his sheathed sword, pummeling them soundly.
"Just do it like this. Can't even manage that?"
Twisting his wrist mid-mutter,
the sheathed sword twisted bizarrely, smacking the remaining squad members' heads in unison.
Thwack! Thwack!
One by one, clutching their heads, they collapsed. Cheonhwi shook his head.
"Sigh, this won't do. No dinner tonight—no thinking about it either. First, three laps around Mount Hua, then horse stance..."
"Eek! Anything but that..."
"S-Senior Brother. Can't we rest tonight?"
The squad, sleepless for two days already, cried out in horror.
But,
"Then block me properly."
Cheonhwi ignored them.
"What did I ask for? Just hold out for one incense stick's time."
"Eeeek! That's no easy feat!"
"Easy for you to say?!"
"Then you want to lose to those Shen Zhou Four Evils or whatever again?"
"......"
"And why the long faces? I'm the squad leader—if I say train, you train."
Cheonhwi dug in his ear, sneering.
"Huh? What's with those looks? Got a problem?"
"......"
The squad members, who had glared back for a moment, bowed their heads and shut their mouths.
Before they knew it, their fists were clenched.
'Problem? Of course we do!'
Their answer to Cheonhwi's question was unanimous.
Seventy days into training.
Cheonhwi's regimen was brutal and relentless.
If anyone lagged, he'd unleash not just deviant qi techniques but torturous methods aplenty!
The merciless drills left their tears flowing endlessly, day after day.
Yet none dared voice it.
Those who had challenged or contradicted him were trembling in a faint.
But Cheonhwi, reading their thoughts, smirked.
"If it's that frustrating, beat me and take squad leader."
The squad bit their lips.
'Beat you? As if!'
'He's not yielding an inch!'
As they inwardly fumed, Cheonhwi raised his sheathed sword.
"Let's go again."
The sheathed sword blurred into dozens of afterimages, overwhelming them.
Moments later, having knocked them all out, Cheonhwi sheathed it at his waist and turned.
"Hm? What brings you here?"
"Follow me."
The Sect Leader emerged slowly.
With a gentle smile, stroking his beard, he spoke.
"Before the war with the Shen Zhou Four Evils, I need your opinion."