Chapter 425: Returning To Xi’an (1)

Free commerce.

A prosperous city.

People with leisure.

Until just five years ago, these were the characteristics of Xi’an.

After the Ming dynasty declined and the imperial court declared the state name as Shang, the world changed.

Currently, the atmosphere in Xi’an was extremely grim.

The government troops patrolled everywhere without rest.

Those who dared to carry unauthorized weapons were usually caught and severely punished.

Originally, the Baek Family, the owners of Xi’an, were not patrolled by constables.

Even the local branch of the Xi’an government bowed to the head of the Baek Family to stay in favor.

But now, with the Baek Family’s manor completely destroyed, the situation was entirely different.

Though no one lived inside, constables continuously patrolled around the manor.

The reason was unknown, and even the constables did not know the details.

Regardless, a mission was a mission. They wore handcuffs at their waists and swung large oak six-sided clubs as they walked.

Then, a constable’s malicious face suddenly twisted.

“Hey, you there!”

It was in front of the wide-open manor gate.

The constable pointed at one of the passersby.

“Me, are you talking to me?”

The one pointed at was a large, burly man with a thick beard.

“Yes, I’m talking about you. Come here immediately.”

Though bigger than the constable, Janghan was tense.

He hurriedly stood before the constable.

The constable kicked the man’s shin without hesitation.

“Don’t you know carrying weapons without permission violates national law!”

Constables grabbed the man and forced him to kneel.

When his head was pressed to the ground, his face was buried in the dirt.

“Weapon? No, it’s not!”

“No? You’re carrying a sword dangling at your waist.”

“This is a butcher’s cleaver! I work at a butcher shop…!”

The constable was referring to the sword hanging at the man’s waist.

The constables quickly took the sword and inspected it; it was indeed a butcher’s cleaver used for slaughtering cattle and pigs.

“Hey, you bastard, don’t confuse me…”

The constable flushed with irritation.

Though the man was unfairly treated, he couldn’t say a word.

“Ugh!”

The constable snapped the cleaver in two and threw it away.

Then, as he spat on the ground…

“What’s going on?”

A black-hatted official of the Evil Cult appeared at the Baek Family’s gate.

He had heard the commotion outside.

The constable, who had acted like a noble before the butcher, quickly bowed.

“A suspicious man was brandishing a sword, so I searched him.”

“Turns out he was just a guy who slaughters pigs nearby.”

“I see. Please keep quiet around here.”

“Understood. Please continue your duties.”

It was rare for the constable to bow so much to a mere civilian.

This showed how powerful the Evil Cult was in Xi’an.

When the official left, the constable’s expression completely changed.

Everyone nearby was staring at the constable with sharp eyes.

His face reddened, as if he felt ashamed.

He glared at the kneeling butcher and then kicked his face hard.

“Aiyo!”

Then he left abruptly, leaving the groaning man behind.

People clicked their tongues at the constable’s cowardice.

But no one cared about the butcher struggling to stand.

He painfully lifted his head and looked inside the Baek Family estate.

He surely saw the black-hatted men searching inside and digging the ground.

His face, twisted with fear and pain moments ago, calmed down.

One of the black-hatted men digging inside suddenly looked up.

Perhaps sensing that cold gaze, he glanced toward the gate.

But the butcher was gone by then.

Even if the sects and families in Xi’an had fallen, not all martial artists were wiped out.

The Hao Sect, hidden in the city’s shadows, still lived.

Their gaze still reached all over Xi’an.

Shaanxi Province, Xi’an Prefecture.

Xi’an, a famous city, was surrounded by ancient city walls.

Yi-gang and his group finally arrived before the city walls.

But inspections were taking place at the city gate.

Those carrying weapons could not enter.

Moreover, most of the group didn’t even have proper identification plaques.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll handle this well.”

Yeom Gwang said confidently.

Meanwhile, Yi-gang meditated.

He was not circulating energy.

He closed his eyes and observed his own mind.

The bandits glanced at Yi-gang quietly but he ignored them.

They were no longer a threat to Yi-gang.

Yi-gang cautiously called someone.

‘Jin-in.’

The person was Zhan Sanfeng.

He called Zhang Sanfeng wholeheartedly, but no answer came.

Jang SambongStop the useless acts.」

Only the Heavenly Demon’s reproach returned.

Zhang Sanfeng did not respond.

When he left the barrier.

It was already four years later, and he realized something had greatly changed.

Zhang Sanfeng only sighed “Ah…” and disappeared.

Since then, he has not responded.

‘Is he inside? Have you not seen him?’

Yi-gang asked the Heavenly Demon.

Anyway, Zhang Sanfeng’s soul was in the mental world inside the Heavenly Demon Plaque with the Heavenly Demon.

If it was the Heavenly Demon, he might meet Zhang Sanfeng and ask what happened.

But the Heavenly Demon gave a negative answer.

「He hid himself somewhere. It’s not impossible to find him, but I don’t want to.」

Zhang Sanfeng had hidden even within the Heavenly Demon Plaque.

The reason was completely unknown.

Yi-gang recalled the Heavenly Demon’s warning.

Zhang Sanfeng was also a figure belonging to the Celestial Realm.

If the Celestial Realm ever blocked Yi-gang’s path, Zhang Sanfeng would not be free from their will.

‘…I understand.’

But that had not happened yet.

If it couldn’t be prevented by worrying in advance, wasting mental energy was pointless.

Yi-gang cut off his thoughts and focused on meditation.

Since reaching the Absolute Realm, he meditated more than circulating energy.

The Absolute Realm is a realm where one can influence the laws of the world with their own will.

Even simple meditation is different from that of ordinary people.

When Yi-gang closed his eyes, a faint aura surrounded his head.

That light resembled the halo of saints.

The Three Wheel Fort bandits glanced at him whenever he meditated.

Realizing anew that an Absolute master breathed among them.

Then Yeom Gwang returned.

“Young hero, we are ready.”

He was much more polite than before.

Beside Yeom Gwang stood a merchant.

“This is a merchant named Ju Baek, who trades with us.”

“Greetings.”

He had a gray beard, but his voice was soft and serious.

“You want to enter Xi’an?”

“Yes. Can you help?”

“What can’t I do? You probably think I’m just some peddler dealing in stolen goods, but I once led a proper merchant guild.”

Whether boasting or not, it didn’t matter.

Even if Yi-gang’s appearance changed, the young clan head of the Baek Family and his older brother didn’t recognize him, so he wasn’t a major merchant.

Yi-gang subtly gestured, and Ha-jun handed the merchant some gold coins.

The merchant glanced at the coins and held up three fingers.

“I need three more taels.”

“…Give it to him.”

Ha-jun gave three more taels, and the merchant quickly pocketed them.

“I will serve you well.”

After the merchant left, Yeom Gwang quietly spoke.

“He’s trustworthy. He wouldn’t dare betray us.”

Bringing Yeom Gwang and the Three Wheel Fort was the right choice.

Yeom Gwang was more useful than expected.

His skills were more useful in the marketplace than in the mountains.

Yeom Gwang was good at employing people, and so was the merchant he brought.

When passing through the city gate.

The merchant approached the constables guarding the gate, smiling affably and talking.

He also pointed at Yi-gang’s group with his fingers.

Yeom Gwang and the Three Wheel Fort members became even more nervous.

But Yi-gang’s group was not nervous.

An Absolute master’s hearing is more sensitive than ordinary people imagine.

The merchant did not betray Yi-gang’s group.

Using friendship and a small bribe, he got the whole group through.

Their weapons were simply wrapped in cloth and hidden.

“Then, I will leave now. Call me again when you leave the city.”

The merchant bowed politely and left.

Yeom Gwang finally sighed in relief.

“Then… young hero.”

“Are you thinking of leaving?”

Yi-gang asked.

His first request to Yeom Gwang was just to get into Xi’an.

Just when he thought Yeom Gwang would ask to be released, he said something else.

“No, I wanted to say I will first look for an inn.”

“You can leave if you want.”

Yi-gang said coldly, and Yeom Gwang looked desperate.

“We lived by stealing corpses’ belongings. Having met a hero like you, how could we not follow?”

Yi-gang looked steadily at Yeom Gwang.

During the journey, their hearts had changed.

Because Yi-gang and his group were beyond what they had imagined.

Perhaps the spark of ambition had ignited in the bandits’ hearts.

“As you wish.”

Yi-gang allowed them to accompany.

Yeom Gwang pretended to be burning with responsibility and looked for a place to stay.

After settling in a shabby inn, Yi-gang changed clothes and came out.

He left the Meteorite Sword at the inn, but carried only White Fang on his back, which didn’t attract attention.

As Yi-gang and Ha-jun left the inn, Yeom Gwang followed.

“Let’s go together!”

Yi-gang ignored Yeom Gwang.

Yeom Gwang tried to speak about being glad to return to Xi’an, but Yi-gang and Ha-jun were unusually cold.

Gradually, Yeom Gwang had nothing to say and fell silent.

Soon, it was clear why the brothers were so down.

Yi-gang and Ha-jun went to the Baek Family’s manor.

But no one welcomed the return of the family head and eldest son.

The once clean road was muddy, and beggars crouched under the shadows of the walls, covered with rags.

The Baek Family’s signboard, written in one stroke, was split in half.

“…They said the clan fell, and it’s true.”

Yi-gang muttered so.

He was rather calm.

Ha-jun seemed unable to contain his boiling anger.

His shoulders trembled, and his clenched fists turned white.

“How… how could this happen?”

The Baek Family had strength.

Even if the main force left, the elders’ council with many supreme masters remained.

They had many connections with the government, so how could they be shattered like this?

“There must be survivors.”

Ha-jun agreed.

But how to find them was another problem.

“We’ve stayed too long.”

People’s gazes gradually gathered.

Yi-gang dragged Ha-jun and left the place.

“Even if you cut all the trees, you can’t pull out all the weeds.”

Yi-gang knew who to find in this situation.

Those more resourceful than Yeom Gwang or the merchant.

Martial artists living at the bottom of the city.

Yi-gang went to the butcher shop next to the Baek Family estate.

Unlike others, it had a flag with the character for meat and a red band.

There was a butcher with a swollen face as if he had been beaten.

“Are you looking for something…”

“Two and a half kilos of lamb ribs. Something that pairs well with Bamboo Leaf Wine. It’s windy today.”

Yi-gang spoke rapidly as if pouring out words.

That complicated order was surely a secret code.

But the butcher only frowned hesitantly.

“…That was the secret code from five years ago.”

“Yes, when Jeong-gu became the Xi’an branch chief. If he’s still alive, bring him.”

Only then did the butcher, a Hao Sect member, recognize Yi-gang’s face.

He trembled as if struck by lightning and quickly nodded.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep