Chapter 63: The Uninvited Guests Identity
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Chapter 63 – The Uninvited Guest’s Identity
Bugye, a small city in northern Hunan Province.
Though smaller in scale than other major cities, this place was a transportation hub where waterways and government roads passed through, so various commerce had developed in a balanced way.
That’s why people commonly said this.
That more colorful than the scenery of mountains and waters through the four seasons was the traditional market that decorated the streets of Bugye.
To that extent, there was hardly anything you couldn’t find among ordinary goods, and since you could buy at cost, it was a place where the footsteps of outsiders never ceased.
The merchant So Dae-a was famous as one of the big hands leading the commercial district of that traditional market.
Having established himself eight years ago dealing in old books and antiques, he was a man who had achieved success through adventurous business skills.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say there was hardly any merchant in this market who didn’t know his name.
Recently, So Dae-a had become the center of a new topic.
It was because word had spread that he had purchased a mountain villa nearby for a large sum of money this month.
It was something anyone would envy.
After all, owning a mountain villa was like a symbol of wealth.
Like any rich person, So Dae-a had now earned enough money that he had no worries about living.
That’s why he must have wanted to set up a personal retreat and enjoy his leisure time.
Mount Domo in the southwest of Bugye.
In the forest with colorful autumn leaves, a fairly large house had taken its place.
It was the mountain villa So Dae-a had purchased.
Currently, the inside was quite bustling with the voices of several people.
“Ahh… This is good.”
“Try some of this. The texture is really amazing.”
“It just melts the moment you put it in your mouth.”
Seven men gathered around a fire in the spacious garden were enjoying a leisurely midday rest while sharing wine and meat.
The atmosphere here was literally like a small feast.
Not only various meats including duck, chicken, pork, lamb, and beef, but also various rare wines including Zhuyeqing were prepared, so everyone was in high spirits.
Just then.
Gulp.
A man in his forties sitting on one side downed his drink and wiped under his chin with his hand, speaking in a pleased voice.
“This is the true life, indeed.”
With a sturdy build like a martial artist, he was none other than Bugye’s famous merchant and the owner of this mountain villa, So Dae-a.
The remaining men also downed their drinks and threw in a word each.
“Dae-a, you’ve really made it. Owning a mountain villa in such a scenic place.”
“Thanks to having a good friend, even we get to enjoy such luxury.”
“What else is a celestial pastime? This is a celestial pastime.”
“I’m jealous, so jealous. I’m dying from being strapped for cash lately.”
At that, So Dae-a laughed heartily and replied.
“I’ll send your martial arts school some sponsorship money soon, so set aside money worries today and drink.”
“What, then how about giving our martial arts school some money too?”
“That’s right, don’t discriminate between friends and just sponsor everyone!”
“Hey, hey, if you do that, Dae-a’s back will break.”
In truth, those six were martial artists who ran martial arts schools in Bugye to make a living.
Before becoming a merchant, So Dae-a had briefly joined the Southern Ridge Sect, an orthodox Taoist martial sect located on Mount Nanling in this region. At that time, they had all formed connections and developed into close friends who could be comfortable with each other.
SMACK-!
So Dae-a slapped the table with his palm and nodded while shouting.
“Fine, fine! I’ll give you generous sponsorship so no one has complaints, so liven up the drinking atmosphere some more!”
Simultaneously, cheers burst from the six friends and the mood heightened.
The wine cups went around again.
Having moistened his throat, So Dae-a suddenly let out a small laugh internally and muttered.
‘Heh… If it weren’t for the large sum I received from the Thousand Snake Gang Leader a few months ago, such extravagance would have been impossible.’
His original dream had been to become a martial artist and run a martial arts school.
But the wall of reality was high.
Far from passing the test for true disciples of the Southern Ridge Sect, he couldn’t even obtain lay disciple status like his friends here.
So he gave up his martial arts aspirations and jumped into business.
Fortunately, he had talent, and after studying old books and antiques, he began handling money.
Growing steadily for several years, he became a famous merchant commanding the market in Bugye.
In truth, that alone had been satisfying.
But early this year, an unexpected deal made him hit an even bigger jackpot.
It was because he had obtained the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique, the true teachings of Heaven’s Death Sword Ghost Eum Ryun, who had made a great name as an ultra-first-rate unorthodox powerhouse in the Hunan region over a decade ago.
He was really lucky.
While returning from a trip to appraise antiques, he had happened to discover the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique wedged in a mountain rock crevice.
Afterward, he secretly searched for a suitable buyer, and the Thousand Snake Gang Leader White Snake Head Sword Gul Ma-hun, who happened to need it, responded eagerly.
In the end, he handed over the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique on the condition of writing a confidentiality agreement and received a truly large sum.
The current mountain villa was the product of that secret deal.
‘Indeed, with the true teachings of a famous master, you can name your price, so no matter what you do, it’s a profitable business. I wish I’d have such great luck again.’
Right at that moment.
Flutter-
Along with the sound of cloth flapping, a human shadow rose above the antique wall.
Swish.
The figure, moving lightly as a feather, quietly descended into the inner garden in the blink of an eye.
A sudden silence.
The gazes of everyone in the venue, starting with So Dae-a who had set down his wine cup, all focused in that direction.
‘…!’
At the sudden appearance of the uninvited guest, the expressions of all seven changed.
Who was it?
That person who had appeared by climbing over the wall instead of using the perfectly good gate.
Their actions and attire were both suspicious.
Despite it being broad daylight, the uninvited guest had hidden their identity with black mask and light clothing.
That extremely suspicious appearance induced tension and made the intoxication in their bodies disappear.
As So Dae-a and company sprang to their feet, one friend shouted.
“Who goes there!”
The unidentified uninvited guest didn’t seem to care and moved the lips beneath the mask, letting out a quiet voice.
“So Dae-a.”
The startled So Dae-a instinctively hunched his shoulders.
“What, you know me? Who are you?”
“Dae-a, step back for a moment! That’s a suspicious fellow!”
One friend boldly picked up a sword he had set aside and walked toward the opponent step by step.
Suddenly.
FWIT-!
No sooner had a sharp sound been heard than the friend lost his balance and toppled forward.
Thud.
Having fallen face-down on the garden floor, he no longer moved.
He had clearly fainted.
Soon, the sight of the black-masked figure extending the index finger of their right hand was captured in the party’s field of vision.
It seemed they had subdued the opponent by shooting finger wind, the technique of emitting an energy gust from the fingertip.
“Gasp!”
“Crazy…!”
The five friends, aghast, drew their swords without needing to be first and advanced fiercely.
Ta-ta-ta-tat, ta-ta-ta-ta-tat!
The masked figure charged forward to meet them.
As the swords of the party, having quickly closed the distance, drew chaotic lines.
Swoosh-swish- Swish, swish- Swoosh-swish-!
The masked figure evaded all five’s attacks like the wind, passed through them, and reached where So Dae-a was standing before spinning around.
Fwit-fwit-fwit-fwit-fwit-!
The successive sounds of finger wind being shot.
The party, having no time to react, received a heavy blow to their chests and collapsed helplessly.
Thud, thud, thud…
‘Urk!’
So Dae-a was suddenly seized with fear.
His six friends, who were nominally lay disciples of the Southern Ridge Sect, had been helplessly defeated.
If so, this was an opponent he couldn’t possibly handle with his own strength.
The masked figure turned around quietly and said.
“Answer my questions without lies. Then you can live.”
So Dae-a nodded and swallowed dryly.
“Where is the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique?”
At the masked figure’s question, So Dae-a’s pupils wavered.
‘No…! How did they know about that secret deal?’
At that moment, the masked figure’s cold voice continued.
“I’ve already finished investigating. Just tell me where it is quickly.”
“It’s…”
So Dae-a rolled his eyes and hesitated to answer.
He had no choice.
If he revealed that fact and the Thousand Snake Gang found out… He would become a cold corpse without anyone knowing.
He belatedly felt remorse.
To think the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique, which he had considered great fortune until now, would suddenly bring such misfortune…
‘What do I do?’
Whether he spoke or not, he would die either way.
Suddenly, when the masked figure slightly moved their right hand.
Float.
One of the friends’ swords rose into the air and was soon drawn into the masked figure’s grasp.
Seeing that, So Dae-a’s eyes widened as if they would tear.
‘…!’
Skilled Void Grasping Technique.
It was a sight proving they were a peak-level master.
Immediately after, the masked figure’s cold voice reached his ears.
“Ji So-gun, So I-hyang.”
Simultaneously, So Dae-a’s face went pale.
The two names that had just come from the masked figure’s mouth were those of his wife and daughter.
“Ah! P-Please…!”
“I’ll give you one last chance.”
It was a warning to confess quickly if he didn’t want to lose his family.
“It’s the Thousand Snake Gang! The Ghost Shadow Sword Technique is with Gang Leader Gul! I handed it over for a high price a few months ago!”
At So Dae-a’s terrified cry, the masked figure narrowed their eyes.
“I see… Looking at your face, you’re not lying.”
“Yes, yes! It’s the truth! I swear on my family name!”
At that moment, with a thwack sound, So Dae-a collapsed to the ground like wet paper and fainted.
“What family name would a lowly household stake?”
Having muttered barely audibly, the masked figure tossed the sword aside and disappeared using nimble lightness technique.
* * *
When the black-masked figure set foot inside an abandoned house in a forest, one person quickly approached.
“Young Master, did you find out?”
The owner of the voice was none other than Nu-heum, the Third Squad Leader of the Ximen Family’s Gale Squad.
Immediately after, the other removed their mask and answered.
“Yes.”
The face was finally revealed.
The identity of the black-masked figure was Ximen Yue, the Third Young Master of the Ximen Family, known as the Heaven’s Wind Sword Wolf.
“Where is it?”
“My initial guess was roughly correct. Just not the Dark Hall.”
“Oh! Then it exists within this region?”
“The Thousand Snake Gang.”
“Oho… That’s somewhat unexpected. Anyway, it’s fortunate it’s not far. Youyang is roughly about a shichen’s distance. How do you plan to handle this?”
“After arriving at Youyang, we’ll deploy the squad members to first monitor the Thousand Snake Gang’s movements. Then at an appropriate time, I’ll personally move and seize the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique.”
“What you just said…”
The moment Nu-heum trailed off while reading the room, Ximen Yue picked up his beloved sword placed at one side of the abandoned house.
“It means if things don’t go smoothly, I’ll cut them all down.”
“…!”
“I consider even the Dark Hall Master’s power to be beneath mine, so how much less the Thousand Snake Gang Leader… I alone am enough to tie things up. Although I’ll have to use the martial arts I learned from that person rather than our family’s to hide my identity.”
Hearing Ximen Yue’s words, Nu-heum trembled slightly.
‘Hmm… That person’s martial arts… Seeing him boast like this, he must have reached some level of completion.’
As someone who knew well what those martial arts were, he could only feel fear.
“Let’s go now. Unless someone coincidentally interferes with our work, this mission will conclude successfully.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Ximen Yue pulled up one corner of his mouth as he stepped out of the abandoned house door.
‘Even if some unexpected variable of a person appears, I can just sweep them away with my power. Heh.’
* * *
At the same time.
Cheol Ryu-heun, sitting with his back against a tree in the abandoned temple courtyard, picked his ear with a listless expression.
“Someone’s talking about me.”