LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 96
Chapter 96: A Guest Has Arrived
Byeok Taesan quietly looked down at the Owner of White Flower House, who was bowing deeply before him.
“Thanks to your assistance, I was able to complete the task successfully.”
The Owner of White Flower House spoke, pulling out a few documents from her sleeve and respectfully handing them over.
When Byeok Taesan received and read them, the contents detailed how she had taken control of the Hao Clan.
Everything was recorded in meticulous detail: what actions were taken first, who was eliminated, who was spared, and how those spared were leveraged.
Frankly, he was a little surprised.
After reading through the entire document, Byeok Taesan tossed it into the air.
With a fluttering sound, the papers floated gently in mid-air.
Suddenly, flames engulfed each sheet.
Fwoosh!
In an instant, the documents turned to ashes and scattered into the air.
The Owner of White Flower House stared blankly at the scene, utterly dazed.
Who in the world could do something like that so effortlessly?
“It was impressive. So, are you now the Gate Leader of the Hao Clan?”
The Owner of White Flower House lowered her head.
“Yes. I am now the Hao Clan Leader.”
A faint smile appeared on Byeok Taesan’s lips.
He had anticipated this outcome. After all, the confidence she had shown back then was extraordinary.
Still, he hadn’t expected her to seize control of the Hao Clan so quickly.
The methods and processes he had just read about were not something that could be prepared in a day or two.
She must have been planning and preparing to devour the Hao Clan for a very long time.
And now that she had become the Clan Leader, her current posture, bowing so deeply before Byeok Taesan, was as good as declaring that both she and the Hao Clan now belonged under his control.
There was no one left who could object to such a declaration.
Anyone capable of opposing her had been wiped out—former Clan Leader of the Hao Clan, along with the old elders who were riddled with fear and greed.
Byeok Taesan retrieved a booklet from his robe and tossed it forward.
It landed lightly in front of the Owner of White Flower House, just a short distance from her bowed forehead. She carefully picked it up with trembling hands.
“It’s a reward.”
The Owner of White Flower House wanted to open the booklet immediately but refrained from doing so.
Byeok Taesan could read her thoughts with clarity.
“You may check it.”
“T-Thank you.”
The Owner of White Flower House lowered her head to the floor before raising her torso and cautiously opening the booklet.
As expected, it was the Shadow Step Art. And this time, it wasn’t fragmented into brief sections like before—it was a complete volume of the art.
Her gaze sparkled with elation.
“On your way back, visit the Heavenly Divine Healer and collect some medicine. That is also a reward.”
Once again, the Owner of White Flower House bowed deeply, expressing her gratitude.
In her bowed posture, she heard Byeok Taesan’s calm voice.
“I’ve decided to crush them.”
She nearly failed to hide her reaction. But, in truth, she had somewhat anticipated this since her initial involvement.
“I’ll begin investigating right away.”
“Take your time. Focus on fully integrating the Shadow Step Art first.”
The Owner of White Flower House looked at Byeok Taesan with an expression of gratitude.
From Byeok Taesan’s perspective, the Hao Clan mastering the Shadow Step Art was critical for their performance. But from her standpoint, his words seemed generous.
Byeok Taesan nodded and waved his hand dismissively.
The Owner of White Flower House bowed respectfully and retreated.
From now on, the Hao Clan would firmly establish itself in Wuhan. The Wuhan branch would truly become the new Hao Clan.
Suppressing her pounding heart, the Owner of White Flower House headed back toward White Flower House.
••••
At the Golden Wall Estate, Byeok Taesan had his own private training hall.
Today, Cheon Kyungwan stood in that training hall.
It was the day Byeok Taesan would personally guide Cheon Kyungwan’s martial arts in a one-on-one session.
Cheon Kyungwan gazed at Byeok Taesan with a mix of fear and anticipation.
Byeok Taesan wore his usual calm expression.
However, Cheon Kyungwan could sense that his mood was relatively good.
Of course, he couldn’t be entirely certain. To gain a clearer understanding, he would need Yoo Seoyeon.
Yoo Seoyeon could undoubtedly discern his mood.
Cheon Kyungwan steadied his nerves. There could be no room for carelessness.
‘He once said I’d rather wish for death during this training, didn’t he?’
Byeok Taesan had said so in the past.
But Cheon Kyungwan had already undergone something similar.
He had engaged in life-and-death duels with Yoo Seoyeon and endured excruciating balance training on the shaking bridge while practicing the Spirit Wing Divine Art.
With resolve, Cheon Kyungwan stood his ground. Byeok Taesan glanced at him with an indifferent expression.
It seemed that Cheon Kyungwan only needed one or two more days to master the Spirit Wing Divine Art. His mind, body, and energy alignment was nearly perfect.
Of course, that wouldn’t mark the end of his training. If he indulged in reckless living, his alignment would falter, and he’d need to refine it through the Spirit Wing Divine Art again.
Even with a disciplined lifestyle, it was natural for the alignment to subtly deteriorate over time.
It was like how the Heaven Guard Corps members who had previously corrected their alignment through the Spirit Wing Divine Art now had to practice it again.
Byeok Taesan moved to the center of the training hall and planted a spear into the ground.
Thud!
The spearhead sank deep into the floor, leaving only the shaft standing upright and perfectly steady.
Cheon Kyungwan looked back and forth between the spear and Byeok Taesan with a puzzled expression.
“Today’s training is to split this spear shaft vertically.”
“Excuse me?”
Cheon Kyungwan was momentarily taken aback.
“That’s all I have to do?”
“If you split it perfectly, today’s training ends. You may then return to your quarters and rest.”
“Even without practicing the Spirit Wing Divine Art?”
“Of course.”
Cheon Kyungwan’s eyes lit up like stars.
‘Today, the Young Master must have called me here just to give me a break.’
That was the only conclusion he could draw.
Even though he knew Byeok Taesan wasn’t the kind of person to do such a thing, nothing else seemed to explain this situation.
“Then, I’ll split it right away.”
Cheon Kyungwan strode confidently toward the spear, drawing his sword naturally as he moved.
An untrained observer might not have even realized when he drew his blade.
Soon, the spear shaft was within his striking range.
Without hesitation, Cheon Kyungwan swung his sword toward the spear’s tip.
He was certain of his success.
Thwack!
If it hadn’t been for the sudden pain in his side.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
“Khuhh!”
The intense pain that began in his side surged through his entire body like a crashing wave.
That pain did not fade; it lingered, continuing to course through his body.
It was so intense that breathing became difficult.
“Who told you to sit and rest like that?”
At the sound of Byeok Taesan’s voice, which thundered like a storm, Cheon Kyungwan forced himself to rise.
He glared at Byeok Taesan with eyes filled with a mix of frustration and helplessness.
Byeok Taesan had not moved an inch from his position.
Then again, he had never said that he would just watch quietly when Cheon Kyungwan went to sever the spear.
Cheon Kyungwan realized just how difficult the training was going to be today.
‘How am I supposed to do this!’
To break the spear, while overcoming Byeok Taesan’s interference? Not even cutting it, but splitting it?
That was impossible.
While Cheon Kyungwan was lost in thought, another wave of pain surged from his stomach.
Blergh!
“Khuhh!”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Cheon Kyungwan’s eyes filled with shock. Byeok Taesan hadn’t moved an inch. In fact, he wasn’t even looking this way.
Yet, what was this excruciating pain? It felt as though his solar plexus had been struck with a powerful blow from the tips of his toes.
Cough! Cough!
“You have time to think, don’t you? You seem relaxed.”
Cheon Kyungwan’s eyes darkened with despair. But before long, his body rose against his will and began moving toward the spear.
“Open your senses wide. Then you’ll be able to do it.”
As soon as Byeok Taesan’s words left his mouth, a shock that felt as though his chest would shatter hit him.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
“Khuhh!”
Cheon Kyungwan gritted his teeth against the pain and reflexively forced his body to rise.
As he walked toward the spear again, he thought to himself.
‘Is there anyone who can actually break that spear?’
Byeok Taesan, seeing Cheon Kyungwan struggle but remain undeterred, suddenly recalled the past as he observed Cheon Kyungwan being sent flying backward from the shock and pain.
‘Who was it that broke it?’
This was one of the training methods of the Heaven Guard Corps.
At the time, of course, it wasn’t just one person who was allowed to try. The entire Heaven Guard Corps had gathered their strength to break a single spear.
Anyway, there had been one person who succeeded back then.
And that person was someone Byeok Taesan had purposely sent out of the Heaven Guard Corps.
For a moment, Byeok Taesan lingered in his memories, then gently pushed Cheon Kyungwan’s side as he swung his sword.
“Kyahh!”
It seemed there was a small crack, but the Heavenly Divine Healer would take care of it. It was certainly convenient having a skilled physician around.
“Should I hire a few more physicians?”
••••
Go Jun-kwang wore a dumbfounded expression.
Before him lay twenty men, all prone on the floor.
They were the ones who had fled from Wuhan.
Originally, there had been even more, but some had been captured before they could escape.
In truth, it didn’t matter if they all disappeared. They hardly knew anything, and even if captured and tortured, they wouldn’t have any useful information to reveal.
Moreover, these men were under a strict oath of silence, so even if they wanted to speak, they couldn’t.
Even if the Hao Clan members used mind-altering drugs on them, it wouldn’t make a difference.
That had already been proven.
The problem wasn’t with them.
“Seo Daegun and Eung Jayeop were caught?”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
One of the prone men answered with a trembling voice.
He nervously recounted what the leader had told him before leaving Wuhan.
Go Jun-kwang furrowed his brows after hearing the report.
“How much damage did we take with this one blow?”
The half-Jiangshi was still unaccounted for, but there was a chance he could still return.
However, the funds invested in Wuhan had been significant. Now, all of that was lost.
And that money had come straight from Go Jun-kwang’s own pockets.
“You’re saying the ones who couldn’t escape were caught by the Murim Alliance and the Black Lotus?”
“Yes. The Namgung Clan and the Zhuge Clan also gave us trouble.”
They had been targeted because they had moved too actively to divert the attention of the Martial Alliance and Black Lotus.
Go Jun-kwang frowned after hearing that.
“Don’t tell me you have been tailed?”
The Murim Alliance and Black Lotus were no pushovers.
Anyone who tried to deceive them wouldn’t be let off the hook so easily.
“They tailed us, but we shook them off. It took ten men to lead them in a different direction.”
That meant ten men had sacrificed themselves to mislead their pursuers.
“Haah. It seems we’ll need to relocate.”
The current place was a city called Hancheon, near Wuhan.
It had been established as a base for operations against Wuhan, but now it was time to abandon it.
Go Jun-kwang got up without hesitation and left. He had a lot of belongings to pack and needed to hurry. He planned to finish packing and leave that day.
The following day, after Go Jun-kwang had moved, Murim Alliance and Black Lotus stormed the place.
They arrived just a step too late.
••••
“Young Master, you have a guest.”
“A guest?”
Byeok Taesan glanced up at the politely bowed Dan Yeong, his gaze curious.
Who could it be visiting him?
“They say they are from the Murim Alliance.”
“The Murim Alliance?”
Dan Yeong lowered her head further.
Byeok Taesan nodded calmly. He had anticipated that he would meet someone from the Murim Alliance since they had stepped into Wuhan.
“I’ve escorted them to the reception room.”
Byeok Taesan nodded in acknowledgment of her words.
“Call Hwaryeong.”
“Yes.”
Although Byeok Taesan didn’t know exactly who had come from the Murim Alliance, it was clear that they had some purpose in mind.
In that case, it would be better to meet with them alongside Hwaryeong rather than alone.
Hwaryeong sometimes saw people and situations from a different perspective than Byeok Taesan.
Moreover, if this was their first meeting, Hwaryeong might notice something that others wouldn’t.
Just as Dan Yeong was about to leave to fulfill the order, Chae Wol entered in a hurry.
“Young Master, there’s another guest.”
“Another one? Could it be Black Lotus this time?”
Chaewol slightly lowered her head.
“Yes, that’s correct. What should we do?”
Byeok Taesan smirked. He had a feeling that things were going to get interesting.
“Send them to the reception room.”
“Yes.”
Chae Wol lowered her head and hurriedly left with Danyeong.
Before they left, Byeok Taesan spoke to them.
“If any other guests arrive, bring them all to the reception room.”
A mischievous smile appeared on Byeok Taesan’s face.
Dan Yeong and Chae Wol stopped and turned back to respond.
“Yes.”
“Also, tell Hwaryeong to head to the reception room immediately.”
Both of them nodded and quickly withdrew.
Byeok Taesan watched them leave and muttered to himself.
“This could be interesting.”