Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: The Shadow of White Ghost Castle
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Mount Tai One Fist perished from Cheonhwi's single strike, and with that, the Taekyong Squad members along with the rest of the Tyrant King Sect disciples all surrendered to the North Wind Merchant Company.
Moreover, the fires were swiftly suppressed under Go Kaeyoung's orders, allowing the North Wind Merchant Company to begin restoring order.
The Tyrant King Sect's assault, which had seemed poised to utterly demolish everything at first, came to an anticlimactically easy end.
However, the wounds and sacrifices inflicted upon the North Wind Merchant Company did not heal so readily.
Not only had the hard-won experts been lost, but more than half of the servants had also become unwilling ghosts.
And that was not all.
Even after suppressing the fires, every building in the North Wind Merchant Company's compound was either scorched or smashed to pieces, turning the place into a scene from hell, surrounded by the stench of blood and littered with corpses.
It would take at least half a year—and astronomical amounts of time and money—just to clean up the interior.
The damage was so severe that it tore at Go Kaeyoung and Yeon Suran's hearts.
Yet there was no clear way to turn the situation around.
Should they demand compensation from the Tyrant King Sect?
That was impossible unless they were mad.
They were an unorthodox sect of the martial world. The moment a claim was made, they would launch a full-scale counterattack without hesitation.
Nor could they ask the government for help, claiming they had been attacked.
The officials would surely disavow responsibility, saying it wasn't their subordinates who did it.
They had been through it not just once or twice.
Bandits had robbed them multiple times, but the authorities always turned a blind eye.
Even though the crude schemes were obvious, they had no choice but to fall for them every time.
The government had no desire to meddle in the affairs of the martial world, so they accepted those excuses.
'If it's the same this time...'
Go Kaeyoung's face twisted in distress.
If the outcome was the same again, they would be the ones in real trouble.
No compensation, and they'd even hand the Tyrant King Sect a justification for further action.
"On top of that, White Ghost Castle backs the Tyrant King Sect... Haah."
Sighs poured endlessly from his lips, now deeply entangled in the martial world.
In the end, there was only one thing he could rely on.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Strength against strength, martial world law for martial world law.
"Only the Mount Hua Sect's aid will do."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Among the North Wind Merchant Company's buildings reduced to rubble, Cheonhwi and the Plum Blossom Sword Guards, along with Go Kaeyoung and Yeon Suran, sat in a circle around a table in the least damaged room.
Go Kaeyoung rose from his seat and bowed deeply and politely.
"We will never forget the grace you have shown in aiding our company."
At his action, Seollan and the other Plum Blossom Sword Guards panicked and stood up together.
"No need."
"It's fine."
"It was only what we had to do."
"Since it's for Senior Brother Jeokgeom, it's our duty as well."
Watching the flustered Plum Blossom Sword Guards, Go Kaeyoung smiled faintly.
Most martial artists didn't hold merchants in high regard.
This was hardly surprising, as martial artists were generally proud and strong-willed, noses held high.
Besides, the ones they often encountered were bandits or the Eighteen Yangtze River Waterway Strongholds, which may have fostered prejudice.
'They always thought they could command even the largest merchant companies at will.'
Go Kaeyoung smiled bitterly.
For them, the blade before their eyes mattered more than imperial law.
But now, that prejudice had been shattered.
'This is what an orthodox sect—and the Mount Hua Sect—is like.'
Even after risking their lives in battle, these people found receiving thanks embarrassing. A satisfied smile lingered on his lips as he watched them.
'I was right to send Hyeon to the Mount Hua Sect.'
The Mount Hua Sect's Taoists weren't revered by the common folk for nothing.
Then, his gaze turned to Cheonhwi.
Cheonhwi sat there with an utterly disinterested expression, as if he couldn't care less.
It was quite rude, but Go Kaeyoung said nothing.
The help had been immense, and he had already heard about him from Jeokgeom.
'Free-spirited, was it?'
As he glanced over Cheonhwi,
"Father."
Jeokgeom, who had stood across from him, gestured for him to sit back down.
"Haha."
Go Kaeyoung sat, then spoke to Cheonhwi in a low voice.
"Might I ask how many reinforcements will be coming next?"
Cheonhwi glanced at Go Kaeyoung.
Seeing the man's eyes brimming with expectation, Cheonhwi crushed it.
"None."
"...I see."
Go Kaeyoung's face darkened.
"Benefactor, do you know who is targeting our company?"
"The Tyrant King Sect, right?"
Cheonhwi answered immediately, as if to say, 'Why ask something so obvious?'
"You know that much. Then, do you know what kind of place the Tyrant King Sect is?"
"Roughly. Some rising new sect, I hear."
At Cheonhwi's response, Go Kaeyoung spoke as if he had been waiting.
"It's an unorthodox sect that's recently made a name for itself in Shaanxi. Lately, they've been expanding rapidly, hot on the heels of White Ghost Castle..."
As he swept his gaze over the Plum Blossom Sword Guards mid-sentence, Cheonhwi grasped his intent.
"In other words, you're saying our forces aren't enough to reliably fend off their attacks."
"To be frank, yes."
Go Kaeyoung looked troubled.
It was rude, but true.
The Tyrant King Sect was a rising powerhouse. Yet the support from Mount Hua amounted to just six people.
Five Plum Blossom Sword Guards barely past their early thirties, led by a young commander.
Tyrant King Sect versus six young Mount Hua Taoists.
Who wouldn't see it as foolishly trying to crack a rock with an egg?
Of course, he knew the Plum Blossom Sword Guards were among Mount Hua's elite, and that Cheonhwi leading them was exceptional.
But the unease remained.
'I can't send Hyeon into the jaws of death. And for the North Wind Merchant Company too, reinforcements from Mount Hua are absolutely necessary.'
Having quickly calculated, he revealed the information he had just obtained.
"I know your skills and those of the Plum Blossom Sword Guards are outstanding. However..."
Go Kaeyoung paused, drawing all eyes, then lowered his voice.
"The Tyrant King Sect has backing."
"Backing?"
The Plum Blossom Sword Guards flinched momentarily.
The Tyrant King Sect was already a massive sect; if they had backing...
"No way..."
Go Kaeyoung's eyes sank as he spoke.
"White Ghost Castle."
"...!"
The Plum Blossom Sword Guards let out groans.
It was exactly as they feared.
'Of all places, White Ghost Castle.'
Despair colored their faces.
They might have a chance against the Tyrant King Sect alone, but White Ghost Castle changed everything.
One of the six pillars upholding the Evil-Black Alliance.
One of the Six Demonic Sects, rivaling the Nine Great Sects in scale.
And White Ghost Castle had once been counted among the top of those Six Demonic Sects.
True, their power had waned after the incident thirteen years ago, and they had remained mostly silent, nearly sealed away—but who could disregard White Ghost Castle?
Not even the Mount Hua Sect, their sworn enemies, could ignore them.
No, they were even more vigilant because they knew their strength well.
"Is it really White Ghost Castle?"
Jeokgeom asked for confirmation.
"Hard to believe, but yes."
"Heavens."
"White Ghost Castle, of all things."
As the Plum Blossom Sword Guards bowed their heads,
'So what about White Ghost Castle?'
Cheonhwi's reaction was lukewarm.
He knew of White Ghost Castle, of course, but didn't think much of it.
'A sect that the Sword Demon alone could clean up—why the panic?'
His standards were different.
After all, he had once been the leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, a force no sect across history could surpass single-handedly.
No matter White Ghost Castle's infamy in the Central Plains, to him, it was just another sect.
As he let it go in one ear and out the other, memories of old tales surfaced.
'Come to think of it, wasn't White Ghost Castle at odds with Mount Hua Sect?'
Recalling the heated rants from Hyeondo and Hyeoncheong about their grudge with White Ghost Castle, Go Kaeyoung spoke up.
"Now that we know White Ghost Castle backs the Tyrant King Sect, we must send a letter requesting reinforcements from Mount Hua Sect."
Meeting Go Kaeyoung's gaze as he addressed him, Cheonhwi moved his lips.
"Yeah, do whatever."
Cheonhwi had zero interest.
Request reinforcements from Mount Hua or whatever.
What did it have to do with him?
Just do the job, that's all.
"Thank you. Then this humble one will send the letter to Mount Hua Sect, and in the meantime, please rest comfortably here at our company."
As Go Kaeyoung spoke in relief,
"By the way, when do we eat? My stomach's about to stick to my backbone."
Cheonhwi tossed out casually.
Everyone froze at the out-of-left-field remark, but Go Kaeyoung snapped to.
"Hahaha, we'll prepare it right away."
As he laughed and whispered to Yeon Suran, who fidgeted beside him,
"Dear."
"Got it."
As Yeon Suran rose to leave,
"If possible, make mine meat dishes."
"Pardon? Meat dishes?"
"...!"
Jeokgeom and Seollan squeezed their eyes shut, while the other Plum Blossom Sword Guards gasped in horror.
"Martial Uncle!"
"Meat? What are you saying..."
"Hahaha."
Go Kaeyoung, seeing them urgently trying to stop Cheonhwi, asked hastily.
"Even though Mount Hua Sect is close to the secular world, don't they abstain from meat?"
"Well, that's the rule."
"Then meat is..."
"Fine if no one finds out."
The Plum Blossom Sword Guards were speechless, dumbfounded by Cheonhwi's nonchalant reply, as if it were no big deal.
Swoosh—
The flustered Yeon Suran glanced at Jeokgeom, who nodded.
'Accept it.'
Though puzzled by the gesture, she agreed.
"A-alright."
After she left, an awkward silence filled the room until the food arrived.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In the darkened room.
"Been a while since I had proper meat dishes."
Unlike the simply grilled meat at Mount Hua Sect, the expertly prepared dishes lifted his mood.
"And there's even a bed."
He flopped onto the bed.
Feeling the soft mattress instead of a hard floor, a satisfied smile naturally formed on his lips.
"Kinda disappointing, though."
Cheonhwi wiggled his fingers.
"They all died before I could really cut loose with my martial arts..."
Muttering to himself, he suddenly recalled the sect leader's earnest instructions.
'Protect the North Wind Merchant Company so it doesn't fall into danger.'
In his reminiscence, a way to resolve this mission came to mind.
A way to nip the threat to the North Wind Merchant Company in the bud and satisfy this gnawing craving.
"That'll do it."
Grinning slyly, Cheonhwi rose from the bed.
As he did, he reattached the White Lotus Sword, which he had hung on the wall before washing, to his waist, then stared out the window at the shrouded moon.
The bluish moon was split in half, scattering its light everywhere.
"Perfect timing too."
He grabbed the window sill and leaped out.
"Time for some post-meal exercise."
In that instant, his Taoist robes and the red plum blossoms began to slowly blend into the darkness.