Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Return to Mount Hua
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Yin Hou showed no mercy to evildoers.
Deafening the Moon Fragrance Tower Master's ears and wiping out the Blood Night Gang were proof enough.
Yet to the same degree, his compassion for the pitiful souls tormented by villains burned with unmatched fervor.
'To achieve such profound inner arts cultivation in a mere month.'
Until recently, Little Moon Fragrance had been nothing more than an ordinary girl who knew not a single martial technique.
But now...
Her clear voice projected waves of qi in every direction.
'Even if sound arts allow for easier qi projection than other martial disciplines, this is far from ordinary.'
On the final day before they parted, Yin Hou had asked Little Moon Fragrance,
"Child who walks the path of melody and song, name one wish. As a fellow traveler on this road, I wish to aid you."
It was a chance to request anything from none other than one of the Heavenly Martial Ten Lords, the Sky-Splitting Sound Demon.
And Little Moon Fragrance had but one desire.
"Make this girl's songs reach even farther."
Her wish was granted. She still knew not a single form, but inner energy now dwelled in her dantian.
Energy existing solely to draw out melodies that soared farther and more beautifully.
'Yes, Sister Moon Fragrance. No—Little Sister So. Sing on. Let your voice carry farther, to more ears.'
As if responding to Yang-hui's heartfelt wish, Little Moon Fragrance's song swelled even louder.
"The wanderer's grace runs deep as the sea, A drop of kindness repaid by a spring's endless flow." "Never heard those lyrics before. A sijo?"
"No wonder. It's something that courtesan Moon Fragrance herself created."
"Ho, such brilliant poetry and melody from her own hand? A true songstress and artist."
"That's not all. Haven't you heard yet?"
"Heard what?"
"About the righteous deed of Baek Clan Manor's young master!"
Yang-hui had spread tales of Moon Fragrance and the Hundred White Pavilion performances in Hangzhou, weaving them into captivating stories.
He'd omitted Yin Hou entirely, focusing solely on himself and Little Moon Fragrance.
The ill-fated Hangju Three Great Courtesans, blessed with extraordinary talent.
The young heir of a Baek Clan martial family, disguising himself as a wanderer for the price of a single verse.
Such tales were more than enough to stir hearts—and where hearts moved, coin followed.
'And fame to boot.'
"Look over there! That's the young hero from Baek Clan Manor!"
"Heavens! What a dashing figure!"
"I hear his talent shone since childhood, and just recently he earned the moniker Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon!"
"Dragon! That's a title reserved for the unrivaled among the younger generation!"
"He's Gangseo's foremost later-generation expert! The dragon our Gangseo produced!"
This was precisely the reaction Yang-hui had aimed for with his rumors.
Unlike Muju, where his notoriety as "Sword Demon" lingered, he'd done little to build his name in Namchang.
"They say the Baek Clan Manor patriarch is called the Twin Festival Sword Hero. Peerless in swordsmanship and righteousness."
"The son of such a man saves a courtesan for the price of one song."
"A tale fit for a true hero, haha!"
To expand one's influence, raising fame was as vital as amassing wealth.
It drew the common folk and good citizens to your side.
"Compared to the White Clothes Gate... tch."
"Shh! Say that louder and you'll draw their ire!"
"They've changed a lot lately, haven't they?"
"Keep quiet. Just enjoy the song."
"Today my heart knows no way to repay, Save to sing forever till white hair crowns my days." The melody grew ever more plaintive, tapering to a delicate thread.
As the tune faded, the song reached its close.
In that instant, thunderous applause erupted.
"Waaaaah!"
"What magnificent song and dance!"
"Moon Fragrance! Moon Fragrance! Moon Fragrance! Moon Fragrance! Moon Fragrance!"
"Hey, boy! What are you doing? Come take my money!"
"Yes, sir!"
The errand boy darted through the scattered guests, money basket in hand.
Each time, coins jingled into the basket from eager hands.
"I've heard one of the Hangju Three Great Courtesans—worth every coin!"
"Fool! Not Hangju anymore—she's Namchang's top courtesan from now on!"
"You're right! Lady Moon Fragrance will be Namchang's pride!"
Overhearing the chatter, Yang-hui smiled in satisfaction.
'I've reaped everything I sowed. Now just wait for White Clothes Gate's response.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Hall of a Hundred Men. This was where White Clothes Gate's elders gathered for council.
"What in the world are we to do, Gate Master?!"
White Clothes Gate elder Iron Gusu raised his voice.
A breach of decorum with the gate master seated right before him.
Yet Gate Master Gong Ya-hyeok could not rebuke him.
Unlike most sects, White Clothes Gate vested little power in its master.
Especially not one who'd recently blundered badly.
"Elder Iron. I have plans."
"That's why we're gathered here—to hear those plans and devise countermeasures, Gate Master."
Cutting off the gate master's excuse was Elder Council Head, Grand Elder Iron Seongha.
The Iron family patriarch—Gusu's distant uncle—and the council's mightiest voice.
"Speak, Gate Master Gong. How do we overcome this crisis? The Baek Clan cowers off to Hangzhou for a courtesan."
"Don't say they brought one of the Hangju Three—those cost a fortune."
"Despite our warnings, Namchang's notables flock to Hundred White Pavilion shows."
"Our enemy wields a weapon of irresistible allure and power!"
"......"
The elders' barbs poured like a squall.
The gate master trembled in silence.
"We vowed to check the Baek Clan Manor."
"Then fight in their territory! Not stir tempests in our Namchang stronghold!"
"And Changil Escort Agency's now part of Heaven-Covering Escort—absurd!"
One blunder after another. Their footing shrank by the day.
For a gate master harboring ambitions to pass the seat to his son, this was dire.
"Enough. Enough!"
The Hall of a Hundred fell silent as the gate master rose.
Out of respect for his authority? No.
They eyed him like spectators awaiting a spectacle. Grinding his teeth, the gate master spoke.
"I'll handle this myself."
"Gate Master, and if you fail?"
"It won't come to that!"
He'd spare no means, fair or foul.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Young hero! Disaster!"
"Young master!"
Yang-hui raised a brow at the pair bursting into his top-floor room at Hundred White Pavilion.
Baek Book Merchant Group sub-leader Chu Yong-wol. And Heaven-Covering Escort Namchang Branch Chief Yeo Gu-wi.
Core pillars of Baek Clan Manor's Namchang network.
"What troubles bring you?"
"Our merchant group's clients have all cut ties at once."
"Same for the escort agency. Regular patrons have turned away."
In short...
"White Clothes Gate's begun their real moves."
White Clothes Gate had long dominated Namchang.
Posing as a righteous sect, they'd toed the line—but lately grew bolder, expanding aggressively.
When they squeezed merchants and escorts, it was child's play.
"Plans for our new product line are collapsing."
"Our escorts idle from a fortnight hence."
"Not just that—even existing clients... who knows after current contracts."
Baek Book Merchant Group and Heaven-Covering Escort Namchang Branch faced ruin.
"Escort side can cover some with Yeongnak Road guards, no?"
"Still building. Only six sites operational—not enough for all escorts."
"I see."
Indeed, former Changil Escort—Namchang's finest—boasted hordes of escorts.
"In sum, White Clothes Gate targets our merchant group and escort agency."
"If they'd swung brute force like a dark path gang, it'd be simpler."
"Aye. But they attack with influence, not fists—tricky to counter."
Common in clashes between "righteous" sects vying for power.
Until one built ironclad justification for force, it stayed at economic sabotage.
'White Clothes Gate waits for us to give them that justification.'
Even flies buzzing the ear annoy; choking your coinflow? Maddening.
In his past life, the Baekui-White Moon Gate war started small.
It ended in White Moon Gate's annihilation.
'Call in bigger allies, and it's done.'
The Tangs were here; pester Jeonmyeong Segal, leverage the young leader's marriage tie, and they'd move.
Through Adul, Shaolin... no, skip that here.
Anyway.
"Problem is, in Namchang, White Clothes Gate's influence is insurmountable."
"Exactly, young master."
"Yeongnak Road complete, years of business—it'd change. But not this crisis."
The crux: surpass White Clothes Gate's reach over others.
Impossible for current Baek Clan Manor.
But...
"Simple."
Chu Yong-wol and Yeo Gu-wi blinked in unison.
"Simple?"
"Young master, you have a plan?"
"Of course."
He'd foreseen this since White Clothes Gate first harassed Baek Book Merchants via Changil Escort.
"Just offer those swayed by White Clothes Gate's pleas and pressure greater gains."
"True, but..."
"We lack immediate bait."
"Then make some."
Yang-hui pulled out stacks of blank books and took up brush and ink.
"Miss Chu."
"Yes, young hero?"
"From today, what sway does One Stroke Writer hold in Gangseo—no, Namchang?"
Chu Yong-wol replied instantly.
"It won't yield to Lady Moon Fragrance's future fame, not even close."
Little Moon Fragrance was already hailed Namchang's—no, Gangseo's—foremost courtesan after one show.
One Stroke Writer already commanded that renown—not in future, but now.
"Our main market's here where we've planted roots. Every Namchang notable owns One Stroke Writer's books."
"I've heard too. Bragging admiration, reciting passages—it's the rage."
Yeo Gu-wi suddenly frowned.
"But why bring up One Stroke Writer...? I know they're contracted to your merchant group, but not now."
"Hehe. Branch Chief Yeo doesn't know."
"Know what?"
"You'll see."
Chu Yong-wol's face lit with relief and anticipation.
Yang-hui chuckled and set to writing.
One book filled in a mere incense stick's time.
Several volumes took just over an hour.
"Here, new works."
He inscribed four characters on the covers, then caressed them fondly.
'Didn't think I'd debut this so soon.'
White Clothes Gate's influence crushes us, causing losses?
Then leapfrog it in one bound.
This novel could do it.
'One Stroke Writer, hailed the world's greatest novelist—his life's masterpiece.'
Even in his past life, acclaimed the finest novel through the ages.
The four characters on the cover read:
📖 MASTERPIECE UNVEILED 📖 Return to Mount Hua Thirteenth-generation disciple of the Great Mount Hua Sect,
World's Greatest Swordsman, Plum Blossom Sword Saint Cheong-myeong.
Reborn a century later in a child's body.