Chapter 48 – Whats Going On

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read more at Nineheavens.org

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Chapter 48 – What's Going On

A bustling street teeming with waves of young men and women.

On one side of the street connected to a large market, a luxurious five-story tavern stood tall like a giant.

Despite it being broad daylight, just past noon, the interior was bustling with guests raising their cups.

Amid that.

Murmur, murmur.

The customers on the top fifth floor kept glancing at a young man seated at a table by the sunlit window.

The reason was simple.

The distinctive features of his attire belonged to a very famous martial world family.

A high-quality robe woven from blue silk, and rough wind patterns covering its entire surface.

Two characters embroidered on the left side of his chest told everyone who he was.

Ximen.

The identity of the young man attracting everyone's gaze was none other than Ximen Yue, third son of the Ximen Family – the Celestial Wind Sword Youth.

Trickle.

Having filled his cup with wine, he happened to gaze out the window and gave a snort.

The sounds of haggling over goods, of people pestering customers, of cargo being transported… He sneered at the sight.

As if finding the way they lived, desperately struggling to earn a single coin, amusing.

For Ximen Yue, who had lived in abundance without a single hardship from birth and was steeped in a sense of superiority, it was a way of life he couldn't readily relate to.

Of course, not everyone from the Seven Great Families harbored such thoughts in their heads.

'A colony of ants who work their whole lives only to die… How pitiful. The fate of the common folk.'

Just as Ximen Yue picked up the wine cup, a figure quickly approached.

"Young Master."

A man in his forties with a sword at his waist.

It was Nu-heum, Third Captain of the Ximen Family's Gale Wind Squad.

"So, you've come."

At Ximen Yue's light gesture, Nu-heum went to the opposite seat and spoke in a quiet voice.

"According to recent rumors circulating in this area, some guy riding a crazy horse around has been extorting the property of various bandits."

"Is that him?"

"Yes, it seems so."

When Nu-heum answered with glinting eyes, Ximen Yue emptied his cup without any change of expression.

Him.

He meant Cheol Ryu-heun, whom he had happened to encounter previously.

Ximen Yue quietly tilted the wine bottle.

"What else besides that?"

"My apologies. There's no major progress yet."

"Heh… A guy who owns such a precious mystical creature only goes around dealing with bandit groups? How amusing."

"For now, I've paid and deployed people here and there, so we should be able to obtain new information soon."

"A horse that money can't buy makes me want it even more."

"I will definitely find it. Also… This is side news, but an unorthodox power in this region called Mantis Martial Academy was forced to close down recently. Apparently they were severely punished by the authorities for using the Seven Poisons Manual to manufacture and distribute various poisons."

"The true teachings of the Seven Ghost Hall that used to be in Jiangxi Province?"

"That's right. Moreover, a medical clinic that was closely affiliated with Mantis Martial Academy was also struck down by the authorities and closed on the same day."

"It's a 'ghost' alright, but not the 'ghost' we're looking for."

"Yes. If that had been the true teachings of Heaven's Death Sword Ghost, we could have saved ourselves some legwork."

At Nu-heum's regretful remark, Ximen Yue handed him a wine cup.

"Here, drink. We'll take a break for today."

"Young Master, however…"

"Although we're moving in accordance with that person's will, it's not such an urgent matter that we're pressed for time."

"Ah, is that really alright?"

As Nu-heum scratched his forehead and asked, Ximen Yue indicated with a nod of his chin.

"Don't worry. We've roughly figured out where that merchant lives anyway. We just need to steadily track down the final whereabouts of the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique step by step."

Only then did Nu-heum put his mind at ease and empty the wine cup.

"Khhh… It's strong. But the fragrance is really exquisite."

At that, a faint smile spread across Ximen Yue's face.

"The person we serve is like that wine too."

"Pardon?"

"Strong yet fragrant, so you keep being drawn to it. Don't you think that's an apt comparison?"

Hearing those words, Nu-heum also nodded in agreement with a matching smile.

Ximen Yue refilled the empty cup with wine and opened his mouth.

"I am constantly wetting my throat with the 'wine' that is that person, but I will never get drunk."

At those meaningful words, Nu-heum straightened his posture.

"I understand well what you mean. That person's path and our path will inevitably diverge in the end…"

Ximen Yue pushed the wine cup forward with a satisfied face.

"The object of your loyalty is not that person but me – that is the one thing you need to keep in mind."

"Yes, Young Master."

Nu-heum downed the wine.

Turning his head, Ximen Yue gazed quietly at the sky outside the window and muttered internally.

'If it's not the Dark Hall, which we initially considered the most likely… I wonder which place secretly obtained the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique.'

But there was no need to rush.

As he told Nu-heum, since they had found a clue to its whereabouts, they just needed to unravel it step by step.

* * *

Young Guild Master Choe Yeon of the Azure Hound Merchant Guild, who had visited White Mountain Gate, was considerably dismayed.

"What! How did you get injured so badly?"

It was because he saw the wretched state of Sect Master Guk Gyeong-in, sitting with his back against the headboard of his bed.

"Cheol Ryu-heun… It was by his hand."

When Guk Gyeong-in answered thus, Choe Yeon expressed his dismay yet again.

"My! Not even Hyeop Mu-geuk, but how on earth… Cheol Ryu-heun could never be a match for the Sect Master!"

"Both the Azure Hound Merchant Guild and our sect misjudged. His true abilities as the new Sect Master."

Guk Gyeong-in's shadowed expression looked like a person who had given up on life, showing no motivation at all.

Choe Yeon still couldn't comprehend.

Even if Cheol Ryu-heun was a hidden genius, how could anyone become this strong in such a short time?

For Guk Gyeong-in to end up like this meant his personal strength had reached a level surpassing Hyeop Mu-geuk.

Just as Choe Yeon was about to ask again with questions in mind.

"Young Guild Master, he already knew everything. That I… visited at the Azure Hound Merchant Guild's request."

Choe Yeon flinched in surprise at Guk Gyeong-in's words.

"…!"

"From the very start, he had calculated everything in his head and visited the Red Cat Merchant Guild. Most likely."

"Th-That can't be…"

"We were essentially no different from monkeys dancing on the Buddha's palm."

Guk Gyeong-in soon let out a bitter smile before pulling out his drained voice again.

"I didn't obtain a single piece of information that the Azure Hound Merchant Guild was curious about. As you can see, all I gained were wounds of humiliation…"

"Hmm, I'm curious exactly how powerful Cheol Ryu-heun is. If you exchanged blows with the Sect Master, he too couldn't have escaped injury. You surely didn't just take hits without fighting back, did you?"

"…"

Guk Gyeong-in was silent for a moment before vaguely brushing past the answer.

"That's a stretch. Anyway, I'm sorry. Since I failed the job… I won't take the payment."

At that, Choe Yeon showed a troubled look before making an effort to console him.

"Sect Master Guk, focus on recovering your health first. I'll meet with my father, discuss things, and contact you directly."

"No, forget it."

"Pardon?"

"I don't think we'll be seeing each other's faces again."

The tone was somehow meaningful.

"You're saying you're washing your hands of this…?"

When Choe Yeon trailed off, Guk Gyeong-in nodded slightly and spoke quietly.

"Our sect will be closing its doors within a few days."

At the unexpected declaration, Choe Yeon's eyes widened greatly.

"What are you saying right now? Closing your doors?"

"It's the result of defeat."

"You mean you fought him with closure as the condition?"

"He said White Peak Sword Sect will no longer tolerate any branch sects. He said there would be no room for compromise, and I also heard a warning that if I didn't comply, I would face even greater hardship. So… I plan to close this place and go live quietly in another region."

"…"

Choe Yeon was speechless.

He never imagined things would wrap up like this.

Guk Gyeong-in paid no mind to the other's reaction and simply continued saying what he had to say.

"Don't ask about what happened then. I have nothing more to tell you. So… Please be on your way. I can't see you out with my body like this."

When Guk Gyeong-in firmly drew the line, Choe Yeon rolled his eyes about with an unpleasant feeling before reluctantly bidding farewell.

"Understood. Sect Master. If that is truly your wish… I'll be going now."

Just as Choe Yeon was about to open the door and leave.

"Young Guild Master."

Drawn by Guk Gyeong-in's voice, he looked back.

"What is it?"

"One piece of advice… Don't have any curiosity about whatever White Peak Sword Sect does, and leave them alone. If you poke around carelessly, you could suffer a great disaster like our sect. Even the Azure Hound Merchant Guild would find it difficult to handle."

It was heartfelt advice.

Choe Yeon replied coldly, as if somewhat offended.

"We'll handle it ourselves."

Then he slammed the door shut and left.

The sound of footsteps fading away.

Guk Gyeong-in stroked the bandages wrapping his body and closed his eyes gently.

The conversation he had with Hyeop Mu-geuk when he regained consciousness after receiving emergency treatment at White Peak Sword Sect flashed through his mind.

-The Thousand Snake Gang's Leader… He killed him with just a few sword strokes?

-That's right. Currently, we've confiscated his White Fang and our sect is keeping it. The traitor Eul Sa-jeok has already been handed over to the authorities.

-My… H-How did he become so strong?

-Don't try to know the details. Let's just say it was thanks to a fortuitous encounter.

-A fortuitous encounter…

-Setting that aside, consider yourself fortunate that it ended at this level. If White Mountain Gate had been enemies like the Thousand Snake Gang… You would have departed this world under Sect Master Cheol's hands.

-…

-The Sect Master is no longer the person you knew. Also, our sect's stance has completely changed. So do not disobey the Sect Master's words. This is advice and a warning I'm giving for the last time, thinking of old times.

Having cleared his thoughts, Guk Gyeong-in soon tried to sleep while muttering internally.

'Great turbulence will arise in the future. In this martial world… Sigh, the future of that Azure Hound Merchant Guild is also obvious.'

Anyway, it was 'goodbye' now.

To the life of living by the sword.

* * *

Clatter, clatter-

Du Cheong, the second-in-command of the Thousand Snake Gang, drove his horse along the forest path while recalling the new Gang Leader Geum Ja-jeom's instructions.

-You go directly to White Peak Sword Sect and deliver the silver and goods. In the meantime, I'll secretly proceed with negotiations with the Dark Hall Master…

'Heh, once the Dark Hall steps up, Cheol Ryu-heun will follow in his master's footsteps too.'

Having finally arrived at White Peak Sword Sect, he tied up his horse, gathered his bundle, and knocked on the gate – bang, bang!

Shortly after.

Click-

The main gate opened and a figure walked out with dignity.

In that instant, Du Cheong's eyes widened to their fullest in shock.

'Gah!'

Because an unexpected person had entered his field of vision.

White Mountain Sword Excellence Yeop Hwon.

Although Du Cheong was meeting him for the first time, he identified him at once.

Because he knew well that there was only one elderly person in White Peak Sword Sect.

'Now on top of Cheol Ryu-heun, even he's walking around perfectly fine… And what is this intangible aura pressing down on my body? Don't tell me he's regained his internal energy level too?'

At that moment, Yeop Hwon asked with his characteristically benevolent expression.

"What brings you here?"

"This is our first meeting. I am Du Cheong, Vice Gang Leader of the Thousand Snake Gang."

At that, Yeop Hwon gestured and spoke.

"Ah, you've come to see the Sect Master. Follow me."

Guided by Yeop Hwon inside, Du Cheong saw the members gathered at the training ground and was shocked yet again.

'What, those guys… Don't tell me they're practicing sword energy!'

It was astonishing.

The hundred-odd disciples who couldn't even emit sword wind before were each spreading white, haze-like sword energy above their blades.

'My… What's going on here?'

Du Cheong, harboring strong questions, followed behind Yeop Hwon until they arrived at the entrance to the Mountain Patriarch Hall office.

"Sect Master, are you inside? I've brought a visitor."

No sooner had Yeop Hwon's words ended than a listless voice leaked out.

"Come in."

Right after, when Yeop Hwon and Du Cheong stepped inside, they saw Cheol Ryu-heun practically half-lying in his chair.

"I'm in the middle of energy circulation meditation right now. Just briefly state your business."

Du Cheong, hearing Cheol Ryu-heun's words, was dumbfounded.

'This crazy guy, what's he saying? Energy circulation meditation, my foot.'

No matter how he looked at it, he was just sitting around lazily.

Cheol Ryu-heun glanced at Du Cheong and said.

"What is that, a common peddler? I'm not buying anything, get lost."

Hey, you bastard! Who's a common peddler!