Luochuan County of Shaanxi Province.
Renowned for its night streets since ancient times, the streets of Luochuan County were always filled with all sorts of characters gathering to share noisy conversations.
Waiters and women soliciting customers.
Courtesans tempting men from the brothels.
And those bewitched by them.
The night streets of Luochuan County were brighter than midday, and so vibrant that it was hard to compare with other counties.
"I must go see Xiang today."
"Ah, are you going to see Xiang again? Don't do that, let's go to Fenghua Lou today."
"Fenghua Lou? Is that place good?"
"Is there even a need for words! Just follow me!"
The faces of those conversing were flushed. Originally, for the sake of their transactions, the two should have already left Luochuan County.
However, having experienced these night streets, they couldn't bring themselves to leave.
A captivating and deadly night street.
Perhaps because it was too stimulating for them as merchants, not only were they completely captivated by the night streets, but they had been wholly devoured by them.
It wasn't just them.
The majority of those who stayed here for a long time were of the same ilk as the two.
"My lord, come here."
"We have delicious meals here."
The brothels and taverns on the streets were soliciting customers, and in this way, even first-time visitors melted into the night streets.
Vitality and lust burning brightly, pushing back the thickly descending darkness.
Soon, Luochuan County was filled with vitality.
But even in such streets, there was a strangely quiet and cold place.
And it was right in the center of the street.
In Luochuan County, there existed a castle more massive and expansive than any other building.
However, even though the castle was in the center of the noisy streets, it was quiet, and not a single light shone from within.
A completely alien sight.
Yet, no one felt awkward about or mentioned the castle.
No, they deliberately pretended not to know.
In fact, not only those who lived in Luochuan County, but anyone who had even briefly visited the vicinity knew about that castle.
The only Jianghu sect in Luochuan County.
And because it was the place that created and ruled the current Luochuan County.
Most of those currently staying in Luochuan County used to say this:
In that castle resided the White Ghost, who was no different from the emperor of Luochuan County.
* * *
Inside a massive room lavishly decorated with gold-painted pillars and walls.
Thud.
A man knelt on one knee.
Sima Fanzheng, the military strategist of the White Ghost Castle, also known in the Jianghu as Baigui Zhumoushi, looked up at the lavish throne situated high above.
The throne, made of golden dragons, displayed a splendor that wouldn't pale even in comparison to those in the imperial palace.
And on such a throne, a man sat comfortably, leaning his back against it.
The man's appearance was mysterious.
For everything was pure white.
His hair, his beard, and even his clothes.
It was an attire and appearance that would make anyone instinctively utter the words "White Ghost" the moment they saw him.
At that moment, Sima Fanzheng opened his mouth.
"Lord Castle Master."
With those words, the man's identity was revealed.
The person Sima Fanzheng called Castle Master was the only one in the world.
The Castle Master of the White Ghost Castle, called the White Ghost by some.
The man sitting on the throne was the one called the White Death God in the Jianghu.
The White Death God glared and spoke.
"What is it, Strategist."
Contrary to his appearance, the White Death God's voice was deep and considerably low, like an echo spreading from a deep cave.
"Isn't sending the entire Soul-Slaughtering Squad to the Bifeng Merchant Guild too excessive, my lord?"
"Excessive? What is excessive?"
"With the Soul-Slaughtering Squad's full strength, we could easily wipe out a small-to-medium sect. Even though the Cold-Faced Blade Demon's plan failed, they are still just a merchant guild at the end of the day."
"So you're saying the full strength is excessive."
"That is correct. Of course, the Plum Blossom Sword Guards are visiting and protecting them, but according to the Silver-Hand Assassin, they were all novices."
Sima Fanzheng seemed to run out of breath while speaking, paused for a beat, and added.
"Of course, the Fierce Beast who destroyed the Bawang Gate is a bit concerning, but the Silver-Hand Assassin said the Fierce Beast was a master of the unorthodox sects. That means the Fierce Beast has nothing to do with the Bifeng Merchant Guild..."
"Strategist."
The White Death God cut off his words.
"How much have we suffered all this time? Our castle's power and prestige, which had nearly reached the top seat of the Six Emperor Gates, plummeted endlessly after that day, and because of that, we had to stay holed up in this Luochuan County, living quietly as if we had closed our doors for a few years... And is that all? Strategist."
Sima Fanzheng raised his chin.
He realized that the White Death God's call was demanding him to speak.
"The other Six Emperor Gates started to ignore us, and the insignificant scum who couldn't even meet our eyes in the past have been eagerly waiting for a chance to take our castle's position."
"The plan we established to annihilate the Huashan Sect, whom we want to tear apart with our teeth, and to obliterate those who ignored our castle..."
"Is the Huashan Annihilation Plan."
Sima Fanzheng finished the White Death God's sentence.
Looking at that with satisfaction, the White Death God revealed his pure white teeth.
"The Strategist knows very well how important the Huashan Annihilation Plan is, yet you say that."
The White Death God rested his chin on his hand and continued speaking.
"Originally, the start of the Huashan Annihilation Plan was not now, but we had no choice but to expedite the plan. And the Strategist knows very well why we did that."
Sima Fanzheng nodded with difficulty.
The Huashan Annihilation Plan, which they had devoted over ten years to since the tragedy of that day, was originally scheduled to be executed next year or the year after.
However, due to the recent events at the Bifeng Merchant Guild, it had to be expedited.
This was because the Bifeng Merchant Guild, which they had only thought of as bait to lure out the Huashan Sect, showed amazing capabilities and opened trade with the North Sea.
If that were all, it would have been fortunate.
Using their trade with the North Sea, they were even attempting to connect with the government.
If left alone, they would face government intervention before they could even execute the Huashan Annihilation Plan.
The White Death God withdrew his glaring gaze.
"Yet it failed from the very beginning."
"But if we send the entire Soul-Slaughtering Squad because of that, there will be disruptions to the subsequent plans..."
"But?"
The White Death God cut off Sima Fanzheng's words.
Speaking coldly, the White Death God leaned forward, taking his back off the backrest.
Sima Fanzheng's figure was reflected and shaken in his blazing eyes.
Kuung—
Instantly, the air in the room grew heavy.
"We just failed to lay the foundation for the Huashan Annihilation Plan, and you said 'but'?"
"...."
Sima Fanzheng closed his mouth.
Not only was the momentum directed at him tremendous, but he also had no grounds to rebut those words.
In the silence, the White Death God parted his lips.
"Strategist, you seem to be mistaken since I've waited for thirteen years..."
His eyes grew infinitely cold.
"I am less patient than you think."
Sima Fanzheng's Adam's apple bobbed.
Soon, he spoke cautiously.
"If we destroy the Bifeng Merchant Guild in the absence of Bawang Gate, it could be revealed that our castle was involved."
"It doesn't matter if we are discovered now. It was a set course for our castle's identity to be revealed anyway, so advancing the timeline shouldn't matter."
The White Death God answered nonchalantly.
Although it had slightly deviated from the original Huashan Annihilation Plan, it was an arrow that had already left his hand.
"...I understand. Then I will revise the Huashan Annihilation Plan accordingly."
Sima Fanzheng stepped back.
He was the Strategist, the White Death God was the Castle Master.
All decision-making power lay with the White Death God.
Hwik—
Just as Sima Fanzheng turned to leave the room, the White Death God called out.
"Strategist."
"Did you call?"
"I have told you repeatedly since the past, but the Huashan Annihilation Plan is just the beginning. Do not forget that our castle's true objective begins after we annihilate Huashan and Zhongnan and take Shaanxi into our hands."
"...I know, Lord Castle Master."
Sima Fanzheng answered quietly.
Just as he said, taking Shaanxi into their hands was the true beginning, the grand plan.
That was why he, the sole survivor of the Sima Clan, had entered under the White Death God.
The two had reached a dramatic compromise.
But right now, they did not know.
How complacently they were thinking about the events currently unfolding in Hanyang County.
They would realize the severity of the situation only a few days from now.
* * *
"To tell me to back off because the unorthodox sects destroyed each other... You have no idea of the severity of the Fierce Beast."
Ha Woo-jin made a complex expression as he read the reply from the Zhongnan Sect.
He felt that the traces of the Fierce Beast who destroyed the Bawang Gate that he had seen were too intense to simply pass over, but the Zhongnan Sect was completely unaware of the danger.
Of course, he understood.
'Since the Fierce Beast disappeared after that day, perhaps it's only natural...'
A bitter smile formed.
No, he thought he would have thought the same if he hadn't seen it himself.
Who could believe it?
That the Bawang Gate, which had been making a name for itself in Shaanxi recently, even if it was an emerging sect, was destroyed by a single person.
Without even a trace of martial arts.
'The Elders probably think I couldn't find the traces because I don't know much about the unorthodox sects' martial arts.'
Ha Woo-jin put the letter into his robes.
Reading this reply, he felt that the Zhongnan Sect had already withdrawn its interest.
'Still, the Beggar's Sect is paying attention.'
Recalling the Beggar's Sect disciples who had been secretly coming and going from the Bawang Gate a few days ago, he shook his head and hurried on his way.
Forget about getting support from the Zhongnan Sect; now that he knew they had even withdrawn their interest, he had to gather information on his own.
Thud— Thud—
The place his footsteps were heading towards as he advanced was related to the Fierce Beast.
The Bifeng Merchant Guild.
It was the place attacked by the Bawang Gate the day before it was destroyed, and for now, it was the place suspected to be most closely related to the Fierce Beast.
Especially if one saw the steep growth of the Bifeng Merchant Guild after the recent fall of the Bawang Gate, the suspicion could only grow.
At that time, the Bifeng Merchant Guild suffered great damage from the Bawang Gate's attack and staggered, but the current situation was reversed.
As soon as the Bawang Gate was destroyed, the Bifeng Merchant Guild eagerly absorbed the rights and various commercial powers they had held.
'People say they are now close to becoming the number one merchant guild in Shaanxi.'
He recalled the recent days.
Hanyang County had been a living hell for days.
Fights over the rights held by the Bawang Gate continued to break out, and as a result, the common people had no choice but to tremble in anxiety.
That was when the Bifeng Merchant Guild made its move.
Originally, since they were a merchant guild and not a Jianghu sect, their actions would have been ignored, but didn't I say it earlier?
The Plum Blossom Sword Guards were staying there.
'Although the Huashan Sect has weakened, the only places in Shaanxi that can compare to them are our sect and the White Ghost Castle.'
The victor was a set course.
The Bifeng Merchant Guild rapidly absorbed the commercial power, and for the troublesome ones, they shared the profits by making deals with the leaders of each sect.
As the days went by, doubts arose in the situation where the heavens seemed to smile only upon the Bifeng Merchant Guild.
'That can't be.'
He concluded that they had no relation to the Fierce Beast.
The Bifeng Merchant Guild was a merchant guild, not a sect.
There was no way an absolute master who single-handedly destroyed the Bawang Gate would be under them.
That wasn't all.
Since ancient times, the Bifeng Merchant Guild had been under the protection of the Huashan Sect, so the existence of an unorthodox master there was completely nonsensical.
Nevertheless, there was a reason he wanted to visit the Bifeng Merchant Guild.
'The Bawang Gate's attack on the Bifeng Merchant Guild might be related to the Fierce Beast.'
It was a one-in-a-million thought.
But in the current situation with no traces at all, that was the biggest clue.
Soon, as his footsteps quickened and he was about to reach the main gate of the Bifeng Merchant Guild, the sound of an argument struck his ears.
"S-s-so you're saying you're a Taoist of the Huashan Sect right now?"
"That is so."
The gatekeepers were looking up at the large-built man wearing a red-and-white Taoist robe, their bodies trembling slightly.
The man's impression was quite fierce.
Hair disheveled as if he didn't care, and a faint scar crossing his cheek.
And his fiercely raised eyes and thick dark eyebrows made even them, who prided themselves on being fearless, instinctively lower their heads.
'That's a Taoist?'
The gatekeepers craned their necks, exchanged glances, and shook their heads vigorously.
He was wearing a Taoist robe, but he looked like a bandit who had picked up and put on a discarded robe.
"...How will you prove that?"
The gatekeeper on the left asked the man cautiously.
At that, the man frowned.
"Is proof even necessary?"
When even the scar on his cheek twisted, the gatekeeper flinched and said.
"Y-you cannot enter recklessly."
Only then did the man realize that the gatekeepers were scared, and he relaxed his contorted expression, showing a troubled look.
But that was the man's mistake.
That expression instead made the man's face look more fierce, and the gatekeepers urgently drew their swords.
"A-are you trying to attack our Bifeng Merchant Guild right now?"
"No, didn't you just say I'm a Taoist?"
The man beat his chest in frustration.
Then, as if he suddenly remembered something, his eyes sparkled and he opened his mouth.
"Then, is the Guild Master inside? Or you can call the Plum Blossom Sword Guards or Tianhui. They would..."
The man seemed to be listing the people who could confirm his identity, but that rather made the gatekeepers jump in shock.
"Y-you say you came boldly even knowing the Plum Blossom Sword Guards are here?!"
"...My head hurts."
As if his head was throbbing, the man pressed his forehead.
'That face...'
Ha Woo-jin, who had been watching the whole situation from behind, widened his eyes.
The man's face was quite familiar.
A few strands of his hair had turned white, and his wrinkles were deeper than before, but the scar on his cheek and his fierce impression were exactly the same as before.
"Senior Xiandaozhe...?"