Chapter 37
Chapter 37
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Luochuan's White Ghost
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Luochuan County in Shaanxi Province.
This county had long been famous for its nighttime streets, where all sorts of people gathered, engaging in lively conversations.
Bellhops calling out to customers, seductive women.
Prostitutes luring men from the brothels.
And those bewitched by them.
Luochuan's night streets were brighter than midday and far more bustling than any other county.
"I should go see Hiang today."
"Come on, you're going to see Hiang again? Why not try the Wind Flower Pavilion tonight instead."
"Wind Flower Pavilion? Is it any good?"
"Do I even need to say it? Come on!"
The faces of the conversing men were flushed with excitement. They should have already left Luochuan County by now to conduct their business deals.
But after experiencing these night streets, they couldn't tear themselves away.
The seductive, intoxicating night streets.
Perhaps too stimulating for merchants like them—they were utterly captivated, completely hooked.
And they weren't the only ones.
Most of those who lingered here long-term were cut from the same cloth.
"Sir, come this way."
"We have delicious meals here."
The brothels and inns along the streets were hawking their wares, drawing in even newcomers to melt into the night.
The vibrant energy and desires of the people burned away the thick descending darkness.
Soon, Luochuan County brimmed with activity.
Yet even in such streets, there was one strangely quiet and chilling spot.
Right in the heart of it all.
Luochuan County boasted a single castle larger and more expansive than any other building.
But despite being at the center of the bustling streets, the castle was silent, without a single light shining inside.
An utterly incongruous sight.
Yet no one found it odd or spoke of it.
No—they deliberately pretended not to notice.
In truth, anyone living in Luochuan County, or even just passing through the area, knew about that castle.
The sole martial sect in Luochuan County.
The very force that had created and now dominated the current Luochuan.
Most staying in Luochuan nowadays would say the same.
The White Ghost, no different from the county's emperor, resided in that castle.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A vast chamber adorned with golden pillars and walls, extravagantly decorated.
Thud.
A man dropped to one knee.
Sima Beonjeong, the strategist of White Ghost Castle—known in the martial world as the White Ghost's Aide Strategist—gazed up at the ornate jade throne elevated high above.
The throne, crafted in the shape of a golden dragon, exuded splendor that rivaled even imperial seats.
And lounging comfortably against its backrest was a man.
The man's appearance was otherworldly.
For everything about him was pure white.
His hair, his beard, even his robes.
An visage and attire that made anyone who saw him instinctively think "White Ghost."
At that moment, Sima Beonjeong spoke.
"Castle Lord."
That revealed the man's identity.
There was only one in all the world whom Sima Beonjeong addressed as Castle Lord.
The lord of White Ghost Castle, called the White Ghost in some circles.
The one dubbed the White God of Death in the martial world sat upon the throne.
The White God of Death glanced sideways and said,
"What is it, Strategist?"
Unlike his appearance, the White God of Death's voice was deep and profoundly low, like an echo reverberating from the depths of a cavern.
"Wasn't it excessive to send the entire Soul Slaughter Squad after the North Wind Merchant Group?"
"Excessive? What's excessive about it?"
"The Soul Slaughter Squad has enough power to easily crush a mid-sized sect. Even though the Cold-Face Ghost Blade's plan failed, it's still just a merchant group."
"So it's the deployment of forces you find excessive."
"Yes. Of course, the Plum Blossom Sword Guards are there providing protection, but according to Silver Water Butcher, they're all greenhorns."
Sima Beonjeong paused for a beat, as if catching his breath, then continued.
"The fiend who crushed the Tyrant Gate does give me pause, but Silver Water Butcher said it was a righteous faction master. That means the fiend has no connection to the North Wind Merchant Group..."
"Strategist."
The White God of Death cut him off.
"Do you remember how much we've suffered all this time? Our castle's forces and prestige, which nearly claimed supremacy among the Six Sovereign Gates, plummeted endlessly after that day. We were forced to hole up here in Luochuan County like we'd sealed our gates for years, staying silent... And that's not all, Strategist."
Sima Beonjeong lifted his chin.
He realized the White God of Death was prompting him to continue.
"The other Six Sovereign Gates began looking down on us, and worthless scum we wouldn't even deign to glance at before now eye our castle's position covetously."
"The plan we devised to annihilate the Mount Hua Sect—which we could chew up and spit out a thousand times over—and to crush those who dared ignore our castle..."
"Mount Hua Extinction."
Sima Beonjeong completed the White God of Death's sentence.
Viewing this with satisfaction, the White God of Death bared his pearly whites.
"You know full well how crucial Mount Hua Extinction is, Strategist."
The White God of Death rested his chin on his hand and continued.
"Originally, Mount Hua Extinction wasn't set to begin now, but we had no choice but to advance the timeline. And you know exactly why, Strategist."
Sima Beonjeong nodded heavily.
Mount Hua Extinction, over a decade in the making since that catastrophe, had been slated for next year or the year after.
But recent events at the North Wind Merchant Group forced their hand.
What they had viewed merely as bait to lure out Mount Hua had displayed astonishing prowess, securing a deal with the North Sea.
And that wasn't the end of it.
They were even attempting to forge ties with the government through that deal.
If left alone, Mount Hua Extinction would fail before it began, inviting governmental intervention.
The White God of Death withdrew his piercing glare.
"Yet it failed from the start."
"But sending the entire Soul Slaughter Squad risks disrupting the later phases of the plan..."
"But?"
The White God of Death interrupted Sima Beonjeong.
Growing icy, he leaned forward from the backrest.
Sima Beonjeong's reflection trembled in the White God of Death's blazing eyes.
Thud—
Suddenly, the air in the chamber grew heavy.
"We've already failed to lay the foundation for Mount Hua Extinction, and you say 'but'?"
"......"
Sima Beonjeong shut his mouth.
The aura directed at him was intimidating enough, but he had no ground to argue the point.
In the silence, the White God of Death's lips twitched.
"Perhaps after waiting thirteen years, you've grown delusional, Strategist..."
His gaze turned infinitely colder.
"My patience is thinner than you think."
Sima Beonjeong's throat bobbed.
Soon, he spoke cautiously.
"Without the Tyrant Gate, crushing the North Wind Merchant Group could expose our castle's involvement."
"It doesn't matter if we're discovered now. Our castle's true nature was bound to be revealed anyway—advancing it changes nothing."
The White God of Death replied indifferently.
It deviated slightly from the original Mount Hua Extinction, but the arrow had already left his bow.
"......Understood. I'll adjust Mount Hua Extinction accordingly."
Sima Beonjeong began to withdraw.
He was the strategist; the White God of Death was the castle lord.
All final decisions rested with the latter.
Swish—
As Sima Beonjeong turned to exit the chamber, the White God of Death called out.
"Strategist."
"You called, my lord?"
"I've told you time and again: Mount Hua Extinction is merely the beginning. Our castle's true goal starts after exterminating Mount Hua and the Chungnam Sect, bringing all of Shaanxi under our grasp. Don't forget that."
"......I understand, Castle Lord."
Sima Beonjeong replied softly.
Just as he said—true beginning and grand scheme commenced only after seizing Shaanxi.
That was why he, the sole survivor of the Sima family, had joined the White God of Death.
They had forged a dramatic compromise.
But they were oblivious now.
How complacent they were regarding the events unfolding in Hamyang County.
They would realize the gravity of the situation days later.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "They tell us to back off because the unorthodox factions mutually destroyed each other... They have no idea how serious this fiend is."
Ha Woojin read the reply from Chungnam Sect, his expression complicated.
He felt the traces of the fiend who toppled Tyrant Gate were too striking to overlook, yet Chungnam Sect saw no danger at all.
Of course, he understood.
'The fiend vanished after that day, so perhaps it's only natural...'
A bitter smile tugged at his lips.
No, he himself would think the same without having seen it firsthand.
Who would believe it?
That Tyrant Gate, a rising power making waves in Shaanxi, had been single-handedly dismantled.
Without a trace of martial arts residue, no less.
'The elders probably think I couldn't identify the unorthodox techniques properly.'
Ha Woojin tucked the letter into his bosom.
Reading this reply, he sensed Chungnam Sect had already lost interest.
'At least the Beggars' Gang is paying attention.'
He recalled the Beggars' Gang disciples who had secretly come and gone from Tyrant Gate days ago, then shook his head and quickened his pace.
With no support from Chungnam Sect—not even their interest—he now had to gather intelligence alone.
Step— step—
His footsteps led toward a place linked to the fiend.
The North Wind Merchant Group.
The site Tyrant Gate had raided the day before their downfall, now the most suspected connection to the fiend.
Especially given their steep rise after Tyrant Gate's collapse—suspicion only grew.
Tyrant Gate's raid had dealt massive damage, leaving the North Wind Merchant Group reeling at the time.
But now, the tables had turned.
The moment Tyrant Gate fell, the North Wind Merchant Group swiftly absorbed their interests and trade routes, as if lying in wait.
'People are saying they're close to being Shaanxi's top merchant group now.'
He recalled recent days.
Hamyang County had been a hellscape for a while.
Fights over Tyrant Gate's former interests raged on, leaving the common folk trembling in fear.
That was when the North Wind Merchant Group made their move.
Normally, as a mere merchant group without martial backing, they'd be ignored.
But as mentioned earlier...
The Plum Blossom Sword Guards were staying there.
'Even if Mount Hua Sect has weakened, in Shaanxi, only our sect and White Ghost Castle can match them.'
The victor was a foregone conclusion.
The North Wind Merchant Group rapidly absorbed the trade networks, handing off tricky assets via deals with sect leaders.
As days passed and fortune seemed to smile solely on them, suspicions arose.
'But that's unlikely.'
Ha Woojin dismissed any fiend connection.
The North Wind Merchant Group was a merchant outfit, not a sect.
An absolute master who soloed Tyrant Gate wouldn't serve under them.
And more than that.
They had always been under Mount Hua Sect's protection—claiming an unorthodox master was absurd.
Yet he still headed there for a reason.
'Tyrant Gate's raid on the North Wind Merchant Group might connect to the fiend.'
A remote possibility.
But in the current traceless situation, it was the biggest lead available.
His steps quickened, and as he neared the North Wind Merchant Group's grand gates, he heard an argument.
"S-So you're saying you're a Mount Hua Sect Daoist?"
"That's right."
The gatekeepers trembled, looking up at the towering man in red-and-white Daoist robes.
The man's face was quite fierce.
His disheveled hair, as if he didn't care, and the faint scar crossing his cheek.
His sharply upturned eyes and thick brows made even these bold guards bow their heads instinctively.
'A Daoist like that?'
The gatekeepers exchanged glances and shook their heads vigorously.
He wore Daoist robes, but looked like a bandit who'd scavenged some.
"......How do you prove it?"
The left gatekeeper asked cautiously.
The man furrowed his brows.
"Do I need to prove it?"
As the scar on his cheek twisted, the gatekeeper panicked.
"W-We can't just let anyone in."
Only then did the man realize he'd frightened them, softening his scowl with a troubled look.
But that only made his face fiercer, prompting the gatekeepers to draw their swords in alarm.
"A-Are you trying to attack the North Wind Merchant Group now?!"
"No, didn't I just say I'm a Daoist?"
The man thumped his chest in frustration.
Suddenly recalling something, his eyes lit up as he spoke.
"Then is the merchant leader inside? Or call for the Plum Blossom Sword Guards or Cheonhwi. They can vouch for me..."
He listed those who could verify him, but it only horrified the gatekeepers further.
"Y-You knew the Plum Blossom Sword Guards were here and still came so boldly?!"
"......My head hurts."
As the man clutched his throbbing forehead.
'That face...'
Ha Woojin, who had watched the entire exchange from behind, widened his eyes.
The man's face was familiar.
A few more gray hairs, deeper wrinkles than before, but the cheek scar and fierce demeanor were unchanged.
"Senior Brother Hyeondo...?"