Chapter 157 - 137 Bodhisattva Sword
The night was as dark as ink, enveloping the entire Capital Region. The curfew in the city had rendered it almost entirely silent and dim, but the outskirts were not entirely the same.
Min Ning rode her horse and spotted a luxurious guesthouse from afar. This location was less than half a mile from the Joyful Sect’s mountain gate, yet the Wuyong Guesthouse was brightly lit inside, with bustling shadows.
At the forefront, Chou Gang spoke when they were about thirty zhang away from the guesthouse:
"Dismount."
The embroidered guards exchanged glances but followed suit. Min Ning swiftly dismounted, instinctively placing her hand on the hilt of her Brocade Spring Blade, ready to draw it at any moment.
Min Ning looked up at the guesthouse sign – Wuyong Guesthouse – and immediately realized that it was now part of the Wuyong Building. Previously renowned in the Capital Region, it was later acquired by Wuyong Building. Being close to the Joyful Sect’s mountain gate, countless Martial Arts masters had stayed here.
The Joyful Sect, a minor second-tier sect, rose to fame worldwide not based on martial arts. Who didn’t know? Joyful Sect once thrived on offering flesh and bone as charity to the top martial artists under the rule of Great Yu.
Within Great Yu, this sect, resembling a demonic faction, hadn’t been eradicated for two reasons. First, the government feared backlash from the Central Plains Martial Arts community following their removal. Second, the Joyful Sect had been docile since its growth, managing estates and paying generous tribute to the national treasury.
Yet the current annihilation of Joyful Sect didn’t seem to be orchestrated by the Central Plains Martial Arts. It was evident to those with sharp eyes that Tang Kumai, Yin Sword Mountain’s Peak Master, was not the mastermind behind it.
Chou Gang led the group, with Min Ning and other embroidered guards following closely. Each was an elite among the embroidered guards, skilled in martial arts above the eighth rank. They gathered outside Wuyong Guesthouse, where Min Ning peered inside. The decor was lavish, the screens elegant, and the grand space full of tables and chairs occupied by guests.
Western monks, forest martial artists, young heroic couples, Beggar Sect experts, Yin Sword Mountain disciples... Inside Wuyong Guesthouse, people from across the five regions gathered in abundance. Despite some convivial drinking and camaraderie, the atmosphere remained cold and heavy.