Chapter 268 - The Storyteller by the Sea
"The Ghostbane Association, an organization deeply rooted in the jianghu, has existed for over a hundred years. Yet, no one can clearly pinpoint exactly when it was first established.
"Although it terrifies martial artists everywhere, one would think the Ghostbane Association is nothing more than a clandestine organization of assassins. The strange part, however, is that the Ghostbane Association has openly established branches in various locations.
"Given the nature of its trade, the Ghostbane Association naturally has many enemies. Many have approached its branches or headquarters, convinced of the saying, 'The monk may run, but the temple cannot.'[1] In the end, no one has ever returned alive, not even the legendary He Wenxian, who was once hailed as the man whose sword alone upheld half the jianghu.
"It seems there is no one in the world that the Ghostbane Association cannot kill. However, just how formidable they truly are is a question no one dares to ask anymore.
"An organization like the Ghostbane Association, no matter how powerful, cannot escape the label of being an 'evil sect.' The chatter of the jianghu is relentless, and no matter their strength, the Ghostbane Association cannot control what others say. Logically, such an entity would never be tolerated by the imperial court.
"There are rumors in the jianghu that the court attempted to take action against the Ghostbane Association decades ago. However, the results were baffling, the battle was thunderous in name but negligible in effect.
"Although the jianghu endured ten years of bloody conflict during that time, even witnessing the demise of the legendary Swordmaster He Wenxian, the Ghostbane Association emerged unscathed. In fact, they grew even more brazen in their actions afterward.
Bah—
The crowd expressed their disdain.
This was a small fishing village near the Eastern Sea. The weather was sunny, and the sea breeze was gentle.
By the seaside stood a modest teahouse. Despite its simple decor, its business was booming. It was already packed to capacity, and many who couldn’t find seats stood under the shade of the awning, craning their necks to listen to the storyteller seated on the raised platform, passionately recounting tales.