Chapter 78
Guizhou City, Ansun.
On the streets of the Red Light District, there were still traces of blood that had yet to dry.
Broken tiles were scattered everywhere, and the marks of sword strikes on the walls remained vivid.
Seeing this sight, Jaseong's eyes grew sharp.
The day he awakened his Samadhi Eyes, the Red Light District of Ansun had been in shambles just like this.
'Murong Clan... If, as I suspect, this was your doing, I will repay this debt tenfold.'
Not long after, when Jaseong and his group entered White Fragrant Pavilion, Hyang-I approached him.
"Leader, you're back."
"What's the damage?"
"Fortunately, our branch suffered no harm."
"Have you identified the assassins?"
"Well...."
As Hyang-I responded, familiar footsteps echoed.
Clunk—thud. Clunk—thud.
When Jaseong turned toward the sound, he was greeted by a welcome face: an elderly man.
"You've returned, brat."
It was Pacheon Gong, the Fierce Sky Faction Leader.
Upon seeing him, Jaseong clasped his hands in a cupped fist salute and expressed his gratitude.
"Thank you for your help. Thanks to you, the Ansun branch was kept safe."
"No need for such formalities. After all, Fierce Sky Faction and the Ansun branch have always protected each other, haven't they?"
As Pacheon Gong replied heartily, the North Sea Ice Palace's guardians appeared behind him.
Their attention was, of course, focused on Lee Rin at Jaseong's side.
"My lady. Were you unharmed?"
"I had no troubles. What about nursemaid and the guardians? Were anyone hurt?"
"Everyone is safe."
"Whew, that's really a relief. Thank you, everyone. This place could remain safe thanks to you all."
"With the little palace lord of the North Sea staying here, it's only natural we protect it."
Listening to Lee Rin and the guardians converse, Jaseong then sought the next person to thank.
"Where's Shadowless Divine Thief? I heard he helped as well."
Hyang-I replied with faint regret in her voice.
"... He disappeared without a word after the fight ended. Just like the wind. If such an expert remained at Ansun branch as our guest and lent his strength, it would be a huge help...."
At Hyang-I's words, Pacheon Gong silently nodded in agreement.
"I thought as much myself. He was truly an expert among experts. I wondered where such a man came from, and to think that old one was the legendary grand bandit, Shadowless Divine Thief...."
Watching Pacheon Gong exclaim with admiration, Jaseong could only nod quietly.
But there was something Pacheon Gong didn't know.
That was, Jaseong had defeated the three leaders of Three Souls Hall, whom even Shadowless Divine Thief couldn't overcome.
Having opened eight of the Celestial Gate Opening Art's Eight Gates, Jaseong could temporarily surpass even Shadowless Divine Thief's strength.
The 'brat' who once made trivial wagers with Pacheon Gong had already grown this much.
If Pacheon Gong were to find out, his admiration would swiftly turn to shock.
"But, faction leader. Have the assassins been identified?"
"Yes, to some extent."
"Where did they come from?"
"Follow me. I'll show you the corpses."
Pacheon Gong led Jaseong to a warehouse in the rear courtyard of White Fragrant Pavilion.
Seven corpses were neatly laid out on the cold stone floor, all clad in black clothes and masked.
Jaseong checked them one by one, pulling aside their lapels.
"This is...."
A crimson tattoo was visible on their chests—a strange pattern like a blood-red branch.
"This tattoo marks the Blood Forest. They're an assassin group formed by the Four Great Clans and Seven Sects' elite. To evade the Evil Path Association's pursuit, their base was set up across the border."
"......."
"Unlike central plains assassins, each Blood Forest member is at least first-rate martial artist. And with their supreme skills, they demand a hefty fee."
"A hefty fee...."
"In other words, they can't be hired by just anyone."
Jaseong raised an eyebrow.
'So it really is the Murong Clan....'
As Jaseong muttered inwardly, Pacheon Gong asked again.
"But, brat. Why did you suddenly go up to the Hao Sect headquarters?"
"I obtained important information."
"Important information? What information?"
"Information that will turn the tide of the martial world."
"What...?"
Jaseong moved to the secret chamber of White Fragrant Pavilion.
There, alongside Pacheon Gong and the key figures of the Ansun branch, he began a full-fledged 'operation briefing.'
First came the introduction of the 'members I brought for this operation.'
"Hyang-I. Did you bring them?"
"Yes, leader."
At her answer, a burly, muscular middle-aged man and a scholarly man with a weasel's mustache stood by her side.
Facing Jaseong, they respectfully cupped their hands in salute.
"Blacksmith Duman pays respects to the Leader!"
"Ink master(墨師) Cheon Pil pays respects to the Leader."
People were puzzled—why would a blacksmith and a document-forging expert appear in a plan that could change the face of the martial world?
As people looked around in confusion, Jaseong slowly opened his mouth.
"From today, we'll spread rumors that the Seven-Star Cloud Blade has been discovered in the martial world."
"What...? Seven-Star Cloud Blade...?!"
"Isn't that one of the Eight Legendary Treasures of the Martial World that shook the world years ago? Where exactly was it found?"
"Of course, it's a lie."
Everyone's faces froze in disbelief at Jaseong's answer. But Jaseong continued calmly.
"I looked at top-class confidential records preserved by the Hao Sect headquarters and memorized the form of the Seven-Star Cloud Blade. Based on that, blacksmith Duman here will craft an imitation Seven-Star Cloud Blade."
"An imitation...?!"
"......!"
"You can trust him—he's the best craftsman in Guizhou City. And this Ink Master Cheon Pil, has experience forging seals for various clans in the Central Plains' black market. The fake documents he makes will spread the story of the Seven-Star Cloud Blade's reappearance across the land."
"......!!"
It was a truly audacious plan to throw the entire Central Plains into chaos.
Naturally, this was not something anyone could do—it was only possible because Jaseong was a Hao Sect administrator.
Jaseong now moved to the second phase.
"Hyang-I."
"Yes, leader."
"Based on records of the Seven-Star Cloud Blade taken from Hao Sect headquarters, flesh out the details for the fake rumors."
"Yes, I understand. I'll get started right away."
Because it was a critical report to be spread throughout the martial world, Hyang-I took out paper and skillfully moved her brush in front of everyone.
[At an ancient tomb in Yinyang County, Sichuan Province, one of the Eight Legendary Treasures of the Martial World, the Seven-Star Cloud Blade, was sighted.]
Swish, swish—
[According to witness testimony, a blade shining like a meteor was found inside the collapsed tomb.]
Swish, swish—
[At night, it emits a blue glow, and approaching it gives a chill. When a person without internal energy grasped it, their skin turned blue and burned away.]
Swish, swish—
[Masked men of unknown identity tried to take the blade away in a wooden case.]
Hyang-I's brush danced as if in a performance.
Once the fake rumor was complete, Jaseong distributed copies to everyone present and had them memorize it.
He then instructed Ink Master Cheon Pil to make it seem as if the information had originated from various small and medium clans and Beggars' Sect branches throughout the Central Plains.
No one would be able to trace the source of this intelligence.
Now came the third and final phase.
"Hyang-I. Once Ink Master Cheon Pil is done, mobilize all our Ansun branch informants to spread the rumor."
"Yes. Understood. I'll make sure it's disseminated throughout the Nine Great Sects, the Five Great Clans, and even the back alleys of Luoyang. Within two weeks, it'll be all over the Central Plains."
"Good. And one more thing."
Jaseong issued another order.
"Station our informants along every route to Yinyang County in Sichuan Province. I want reports on who from which sect is moving."
"Understood. I'll arrange it at once."
Afterwards, Hyang-I and Ink Master Cheon Pil wrote correspondence through the night.
From the upper floor of White Fragrant Pavilion, they sent out carrier pigeons without rest.
Thanks to their efforts, the alleys behind Ansun's Red Light District were soon filled with the flapping of carrier pigeon wings.
The spark of greed sown by Jaseong spread quietly but fiercely throughout the entire martial world.
* * *
Two weeks later,
Taverns all around the Central Plains were abuzz with rumors of the Seven-Star Cloud Blade.
At a tavern in Luoyang—
"The Seven-Star Cloud Blade? If it's real, there'll be hell to pay!"
A swordsman, raising his cup, spoke in an excited voice.
"Unbelievable. That famous blade of legend actually appearing in this world..."
A martial artist at the next table's eyes sparkled.
"Sichuan's Yinyang County? Should we try to go?"
"Forget it. Vagrants like us shouldn't get involved. Word is, Zhongnan has already formed a team to investigate."
"Not just Zhongnan. I heard Mount Hua's started to move, too."
"You can bet the Murim Alliance and Evil Path Association will jump in as well. Tsk tsk, looks like another bloodstorm is coming to the martial world..."
Such conversations of drunken customers soon became reality.
Mount Hua, Shaanxi Province.
The leader of Mount Hua gazed at a correspondence in deep thought.
"Call together the Plum Blossom Swordsmen. We must move ahead of the others. If this rumor about the Seven-Star Cloud Blade is true... Mount Hua must not let it slip away."
Qingcheng Mountain, Sichuan Province.
The leader of Qingcheng likewise read a missive, eyes gleaming.
"This time, we'll handle things quietly. No one must know. Once the Seven-Star Cloud Blade falls into our hands, that greedy Murim Alliance Leader will make every excuse to seize it for themselves..."
The leader of Zhongnan wore a greedy smile.
"If necessary, use force without hesitation. But leave no traces. Especially—be careful not to run into those Mount Hua bastards."
Reactions came even faster than Jaseong had predicted.
The great factions of the martial world pricked their ears at the Seven-Star Cloud Blade's news like predators scenting prey.
"Leader, everything is proceeding as you planned. Half the Nine Great Sects heard the rumor and are on the move, and many small and medium sects are flocking to Sichuan Province."
In the secret chamber of White Fragrant Pavilion, Hyang-I reported.
Upon hearing this, Lee Rin—holding a sweet in one hand—exclaimed repeatedly.
"They say three people can make a tiger where there is none. As the hero said, the power of information is truly amazing."
Gu Janghu followed up her words.
"So the vast intelligence network the Hao Sect built up for centuries could be used like this. Remarkable, indeed."
"But I didn't think the sects would react this quickly. They're swarming like starved wolves..."
At Lee Rin's words, Jaseong allowed himself a brief smile.
"That's how greedy they are. Their eyes are blinded by a single line about the Eight Legendary Treasures of the Martial World."
Jaseong gazed into the lantern's glow for a moment, then questioned Hyang-I again.
"Hyang-I. Is the item ready?"
"Yes. Blacksmith Duman just finished it."
Hyang-I carefully produced a blade wrapped in blue silk.
The sheath was subtly engraved with a seven-star pattern, and when Jaseong drew the sword, the blade glimmered with blue light.
It filled the secret room with a chill, like a meteor fallen from the sky had lodged itself in the blade.
"Convincing,"
Jaseong said, gazing at the imitation Seven-Star Cloud Blade with satisfaction. Just then, Hyang-I spoke cautiously.
"Leader. Actually, urgent missives arrived from various upper branches."
"What do they say?"
"They're asking if it was our branch that spread the rumor about the Seven-Star Cloud Blade."
"So, how did you respond?"
"For now, I didn't reply at all. But the heads of those branches all said, 'You've done something you can't take back.'"
Anyone would have grown tense at that.
But Jaseong was unfazed. He'd fully anticipated such a reaction.
"Whatever the branches send, ignore it."
"Yes, understood."
"I'll be off, then."
"Yes. Take care, leader."
After Hyang-I's farewell, Jaseong placed the imitation Seven-Star Cloud Blade in a wooden case and donned a mask.
He then left White Fragrant Pavilion.
Masked experts trailed in his wake: the four guardians of the North Sea, along with Gu Janghu and Lee Rin.
They were few in number, but enough to annihilate any mid-sized sect.
"Take care, brat."
Pacheon Gong called after Jaseong as he set off.
Due to his prosthetic leg, which made him too conspicuous, he chose to remain at White Fragrant Pavilion.
"When all this is over, let's have a drink like old times."
Jaseong replied with a faint smile.
With those words, he set off, heading for the turbulent land of Sichuan Province, where all the sects of the martial world were gathering.