Chapter 51
Chapter 51
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: The Fall of White Ghost Castle
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Cheonhwi pulled the sword from the heart of the lifeless Baek Sa-sin.
Ju-ruk—
Blood began to flow from the gaping wound, staining his pristine white robes like plum blossoms in bloom.
Cheonhwi averted his gaze from Baek Sa-sin's coldly chilled corpse and muttered gruffly.
"Did I underestimate the martial world too much?"
Though he had defeated Baek Sa-sin, his expression was far from that of a victor—it was filled with profound dissatisfaction.
I didn't want to use demonic arts.
Five years ago, after becoming a Taoist of the Mount Hua Sect, he had vowed never to employ demonic ultimate techniques again.
Yet what had happened?
With only the inner energy of the Plum Blossom Divine Art, he couldn't break through Baek Sa-sin's qi cultivation method. In the end, he had been forced to draw upon the power of the Absolute Dominion Art.
"What pisses me off is that it was unavoidable."
His furrowed brows knit together.
"He called himself one of the Eight Divine Arms? I feel like I've heard that somewhere before..."
As he recalled Baek Sa-sin's dying words—
"Cheonhwi!"
He turned at the thunderous shout from behind him.
"You okay? Where's Baek Sa-sin?"
"We came to help!"
At the urgent questions from Hyeondo and Ha Woojin, who had arrived late, Cheonhwi swung his sword to point at the coldly chilled corpse of Baek Sa-sin.
"...!"
Both men widened their eyes simultaneously.
They stood there dumbfounded, mouths agape, as if witnessing something utterly impossible.
Ignoring their stupefied expressions, Cheonhwi flicked his sword to shake off the thick, blackish blood clinging to the blade.
Chwaaak—
Hyeondo turned at the sound.
His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, then he finally spoke.
"D-did you... do this?"
"Yeah."
Cheonhwi stared at the stammering Hyeondo and replied curtly.
"Baek Sa-sin..."
As Hyeondo trailed off, staring blankly at Cheonhwi—
Ku-rung—
White Ghost Castle began to shake, unable to withstand the clash between Cheonhwi and Baek Sa-sin.
"More importantly, it looks like it's about to collapse. Let's get out."
No sooner had he spoken than the cracks everywhere widened, dust falling as if it might crumble at any moment.
Tudu-duk—
As even stones began falling from the ceiling, Hyeondo—and even the dazed Ha Woojin—snapped to attention and shouted in unison.
"Hurry and get out!"
"We need to go!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Wh-what the hell is going on?"
The area outside was packed with people.
The continuous sounds of clashing from within White Ghost Castle had piqued the curiosity even of those lost in revelry, drawing crowds near the fortress.
"White Ghost Castle..."
"It's collapsing!"
Those who reached White Ghost Castle were unable to hide their shock.
The massive gates, like an impregnable fortress, lay in ruins—and inside was filled with corpses and the stench of blood.
All of them warriors of White Ghost Castle.
Geu-geuk—
Then came an ominous sound.
The ground shook as if an earthquake had struck, sending the crowd into panic.
"A-aaah!"
"It's an earthquake!"
Kwa-gwa-gwang!
Was a bolt from a clear sky like this?
As White Ghost Castle, which dominated Nakcheon Prefecture, crumbled, the onlookers fell silent in awe.
"Told you we had to uproot them completely."
Standing apart from the crowd, Cheonhwi smiled in satisfaction.
A long-buried resentment had finally been digested, leaving him feeling refreshed.
"Finally..."
Hyeondo whispered in a trembling voice, his overwhelming joy rendering him speechless.
That happy, huh?
As Cheonhwi shrugged at Hyeondo, who was choking up despite his joy—
"I-immortal!"
Jin-gae, who had been hiding in an alley, spotted Cheonhwi and the group and came running.
He stared at the three of them with an expression of utter disbelief, then gulped.
"D-did the three of you really destroy White Ghost Castle?"
As Cheonhwi opened his mouth to reply, Hyeondo raised a hand to stop him and answered instead.
"Can't you see for yourself?"
Jin-gae's mouth fell open.
How could this be possible?
White Ghost Castle was one of the six pillars supporting the Evil-Black Alliance—the Six Imperial Sects.
A great sect said to rival the Nine Great Sects, toppled by just three people?
If it weren't Hyeondo saying it, he would have called it nonsense.
"Wh-what about Baek Sa-sin?"
Jin-gae cautiously glanced at Hyeondo and asked.
"That bastard's dead."
Jin-gae's mind went blank from the shock.
They defeated Baek Sa-sin?
Jin-gae's head was in turmoil.
The Mount Hua Sect's reputation had plummeted to rock bottom, incomparable to its past glory.
Even Mount Hua's Supreme Swordsman was said to be on par only with the elders of other Nine Great Sects.
Yet they had defeated Baek Sa-sin?
A spark ignited in Jin-gae's eyes.
This is my chance!
Jin-gae's mouth watered.
This information would give him a huge edge in the division head competition.
"D-did the Immortal defeat him?"
Hyeondo nodded.
"I-I'll be right back."
Jin-gae bowed quickly once and dashed toward White Ghost Castle.
Watching Jin-gae's retreating back, Hyeondo turned to Ha Woojin and Cheonhwi.
"Say I killed Baek Sa-sin."
"Pardon? But it was Senior Brother who— no, it wasn't you, it was—"
Ha Woojin cut himself off and glanced at Cheonhwi, but Hyeondo shook his head.
"Do you want Cheonhwi to follow in our youngest martial brother's footsteps?"
"...!"
Ha Woojin understood immediately.
"But still, is that okay? If word gets out, the Mount Hua Sect could gain unprecedented fame..."
Baek Sa-sin was the hegemon of a region.
If it became known that such a figure had been defeated by someone as young as Cheonhwi, it would shake the martial world—no, the entire realm.
"What does fame matter? With Cheonhwi here, we can earn it anytime."
Hyeondo gazed at Cheonhwi with gentle eyes. To him, Cheonhwi was more precious than anything in the world.
"More importantly, Cheonhwi's safety comes first."
"But if Cheonhwi defeated Baek Sa-sin, no one in the world could—"
Ha Woojin paused mid-sentence.
There were those he had forgotten, lulled by the peaceful era of the Three Powers of the Central Plains.
They still exist.
Ha Woojin continued.
"...I understand."
What the hell are they on about?
Cheonhwi looked pityingly at the two bickering right in front of him, then shook his head.
"Anyway, let's head back. Nothing more to see here."
"Right."
"I should head off separately now."
Ha Woojin said with a stiff expression.
"Planning to go straight to Chungnam Sect?"
"Since this was done on my own initiative, I need to report it to the sect."
He glanced at Cheonhwi as he spoke.
"That way, we can prevent rumors about Cheonhwi from spreading."
Hyeondo chuckled heartily and patted Ha Woojin's shoulder.
"Thanks."
"No need. It's what I should do."
Ha Woojin smiled faintly and turned to leave, then paused as if remembering something.
"By the way, Senior Brother. May I visit the Mount Hua Sect later?"
Hyeondo nodded vigorously.
"Come anytime. Even if relations between Mount Hua and Chungnam aren't great, everyone would welcome you."
"Hahaha! Really?"
Ha Woojin, looking relieved, bowed and departed.
"I'll visit another time then."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The world was in upheaval.
It started with a rumor spreading from Shaanxi.
The annihilation of White Ghost Castle.
The mere mention was shocking enough to make one dig out their ears in disbelief.
White Ghost Castle wasn't just any sect.
It was one of the Six Imperial Sects, a top great sect in the world.
Most dismissed it as a baseless rumor, but the Beggars' Sect, the origin of the tale, confirmed it as undeniable fact.
And added an even more astonishing detail.
Mount Hua's Supreme Swordsman and the Unfettered Sword General killed Baek Sa-sin and destroyed White Ghost Castle!
Everyone was stunned.
That just two people did it was shocking enough, but their identities were even more so.
The Unfettered Sword General was at least well-known from recent activities in the martial world.
He was the next Supreme Swordsman to inherit the title from the Chungnam Sword Saint of the Chungnam Sect.
Mount Hua's Supreme Swordsman, on the other hand?
No one knew anything about him.
Not even his Taoist title or gender.
No one paid attention to the declining Mount Hua Sect, and it had been over a decade since the one called Mount Hua's Supreme Swordsman had been active.
But this incident changed everything.
Various sects began investigating who Mount Hua's Supreme Swordsman could be.
Mount Hua Sect started to make waves in the martial world after a long hiatus.
Like a stone dropped into a still lake.
Soon, the entire world began to stir.
Attention focused on Shaanxi—specifically Mount Hua Sect, Chungnam Sect, and the Evil-Black Alliance.
Depending on the Evil-Black Alliance's reaction, a righteous-evil war could erupt.
And Cheonhwi, who had caused this tangled mess, arrived at the Bifeng Merchant Group.
"We've arrived."
Jin-gae, sitting on the coachman's seat, grinned widely at Cheonhwi and Hyeondo.
By relaying detailed information about White Ghost Castle's fall to the Beggars' Sect, he had come closer than ever to becoming division head.
I need to build more rapport!
Jin-gae beamed stickily at Hyeondo Immortal.
Unaware of this, Cheonhwi eyed Jin-gae like a madman.
No, he is a madman.
Recalling how Jin-gae had smirked at Baek Sa-sin's corpse, Cheonhwi was certain.
He withdrew his gaze from Jin-gae and opened the carriage door.
The Bifeng Merchant Group's broken gates remained as they were, the interior wide open.
Then Cheonhwi's eyes narrowed.
Beyond the shattered gates, a familiar middle-aged woman was speaking with Ko Gaeyoung.
"...Your benefactor's help was immense."
"Is that so?"
Their eyes met.
"Younger Martial Brother?"
Ko Gaeyoung called out in confusion at her reaction, but she stepped forward as if entranced. Having already unleashed Jade Ring Wondrous Step, the woman hurried to Cheonhwi's side.
"Hwi-ya!"
Her thunderous cry drew the eyes of Ko Gaeyoung and everyone in the Bifeng Merchant Group to the gates.
Cheonhwi turned as well.
Martial Aunt Hyeonryeo?
"Haah, you're safe."
She approached and patted her chest in relief.
"Heh heh heh. Martial Sister only sees Cheonhwi and not me, huh?"
Hyeonryeo snapped her head up.
"Senior Brother!"
Despite her sharp tone, Hyeondo smiled gently.
"Just kidding. But you hate venturing into the martial world so much—why come out?"
"I heard you and Cheonhwi were in danger..."
She mumbled awkwardly, then suddenly remembered something and added urgently.
"How did it go?"
"It went well."
Hyeonryeo's expression shifted rapidly—from doubt to realization, then to ecstasy.
Staring at Hyeondo with heightened emotion, she forced her trembling lips to part.
"Th-that means..."
"We avenged our youngest martial brother."
"Really...?"
Hyeondo nodded firmly, and Hyeonryeo bit her lip, sobbing.
"Sniff... finally..."
"No tears on a day like this."
Hyeondo patted her shoulder.
"Smile instead of crying. That's what our youngest would want."
As Hyeondo comforted the teary Hyeonryeo, Cheonhwi subtly put some distance between them.
"Glad you returned safely."
Ko Gaeyoung approached.
"No more attacks since then, I take it."
"Fortunately not."
"Good."
As Cheonhwi turned to go, Ko Gaeyoung asked very cautiously.
"May I ask one thing?"
"What is it?"
"How did it go?"
At her worried expression, Cheonhwi chuckled and replied.
"No more attacks from now on."
Ko Gaeyoung's eyes shook violently.
No more attacks?
It could only mean one thing.
Either negotiations succeeded, or the enemy was wiped out.
But there was no way they negotiated with their hated foe, White Ghost Castle.
That meant...
White Ghost Castle was annihilated!
Finishing her thought, Ko Gaeyoung bowed deeply, her hair whipping around.
"Thank you. I don't know how to repay this grace... Ah!"
Mid-gratitude, she remembered something and urgently rummaged in her bosom.
"Here..."
Moments later, she carefully handed Cheonhwi a resplendent golden plaque.
"Show this plaque to any reputable merchant group in the Central Plains, and you'll receive a modest sum of money."
Cheonhwi's eyes gleamed.
Money? Perfect timing.
It might prove useful for future activities in the martial world, so he took it readily.
"Nice."
"Hahaha. Glad you like it."
Ko Gaeyoung grinned broadly.
The golden plaque had been key to building the current Bifeng Merchant Group, but she didn't hesitate.
Losing the plaque hurts, but forging ties with the benefactor will make us fearless across the world.
Ko Gaeyoung finished her calculations in an instant.
What was most important to a merchant?
Money, trust, and connections.
For connections, she endured a small loss and gave Cheonhwi the plaque.
Perhaps staking the Bifeng Merchant Group's future on this once-in-a-lifetime gamble.
Watching Cheonhwi tuck the plaque into his sleeve nonchalantly, Ko Gaeyoung asked.
"What are your plans now, Benefactor?"
"I still have the mission to protect the Bifeng Merchant Group, so I'll stay a bit longer..."
"No, that's not happening."
Hyeonryeo cut in firmly as she approached.
"Cheonhwi, you're going back to Mount Hua Sect right now."