Chapter 274 - The Moon-Capturing Master
Dozens of miles from the shores of the Ruen Dynasty lay an island in the Eastern Sea called Bujue; home to the Ghostbane Association's headquarters. On the island stands a mountain, and atop its highest cliff rests a grand hall adorned in black and gold.
The Hall of Killing Intent.
It is said that both the hall and its foreboding name have existed since the founding of the Ghostbane Association. The name, meaning "It’s easy to kill someone, but hard to extinguish someone's ideals," reflects its purpose as the residence of successive sectmasters.
"Hua Dongsheng is inside?" Sikong Yan asked, tilting his head to look at the people behind him outside the Hall of Killing Intent.
Fu Yiran turned to glance at the four elders behind them.
The youngest of the four elders, Song Wenxuan, the Head Curator of the Secretariat Pavilion, spoke up. "At this hour, he should be."
Sikong Yan raised his head to look at the plaque above the hall, frowning. "With no real power, what does he do here every day?"
"Ke ke ke..." Wang Yuegui, the Scarlet Cloak of the Wingless Chamber, cackled. "The previous chief, Zhu Yin, found staying in the hall too stifling and insisted on going out for fun. That’s how he lost his head. Hua Dongsheng doesn't have enough heads to risk going out to play."
"Your laugh is strange, and everything you say is nonsense," retorted Luo Menghan, the Seal Keeper of the Execution Hall. He frowned as he tugged at Wang Yuegui. He turned to Sikong Yan and added, "Hua Dongsheng is clever. He knows he’s just a figurehead, so he spends his days indulging in pleasures within the hall and rarely ventures out."
"Pleasures?" Sikong Yan sneered. "Let’s see what he really does for ourselves."
The group ascended the steps. As they reached the hall’s entrance, Fu Yiran turned his head to glance into the shadows. He could sense someone watching them from the darkness. Han Linsheng waved his hand, and the oppressive feeling of being watched gradually faded away.