Free Web Novel“Is this the place.”
I paused briefly and looked at the towering gate visible even from afar.
The overall size of the estate might have been somewhat lacking, but judging by the sheer scale of the gate alone, it seemed comparable to—perhaps even slightly larger than—the Sichuan Tang Clan.
Of course, the reason for erecting such a grand structure was entirely different.
In the case of the Tang Clan, not only members of the family but many others resided within the estate.
Servants who attended to daily needs, skilled blacksmiths, specialists in cultivating poisonous herbs and venomous insects, external martial artists confident in their skills, renowned physicians, and even their families.
Some capable individuals married into collateral branches of the Tang Clan, tying themselves loosely by blood.
But fundamentally, even those unrelated by blood lived within the Tang estate and devoted themselves to their roles as members of the clan.
Repay grace twice over, repay grudges tenfold.
A chilling family motto, to be sure. Yet whether gratitude or resentment, both arose from interactions with others.
In the end, perhaps the Tang Clan’s motto implied not to isolate oneself arrogantly, but to live intertwined with people.
In contrast, the estate before my eyes—the residence of the Golden Ghost Wolf King—existed for a completely different reason.
The reason his estate was so large was not necessity.
It was display.
“To my knowledge, he collects rare treasures from all across the Central Plains and even builds separate structures solely to hoard them.”
“Well, that’s a common hobby among the wealthy, isn’t it?”
“The problem lies in how he gathers them.”
Heirlooms of ancient families. Sacred relics passed down from ancestors. Masterpieces that their owners would clutch even if offered a thousand gold.
How did one acquire such items?
The Golden Ghost Wolf King’s answer was simple.
“He would first thoroughly ruin the original owner—whether by force or by wealth—then extend a hand. Claiming that if they handed over the treasure, they could reclaim everything they had lost. And sometimes he even paid generously rather than offering a paltry sum.”
“Ugh.”
“Afterward, he would leave those hard-won items to decay. Rusting, molding, gathering dust—as if he didn’t care at all.”
“Why? If he wanted them so badly, isn’t that no different from throwing them away?”
“To show them off.”
He hadn’t bled others dry because he needed the treasures.
It was to demonstrate that no matter how precious something was, he could buy it at will—and even if it rotted beyond use, he would not feel a shred of regret.
“I don’t understand that at all…”
Tang Sowol frowned and tilted her head.
Only after realizing she was still on my back and that the surrounding gazes were slowly gathering did she shrink her neck like a turtle.
Had it taken three days to arrive?
Tang Sowol had growled that she would repay this humiliation someday…
Yet while she was embarrassed to cling to my back, that very embarrassment forced her to cling even tighter.
That part was enjoyable enough. My future self could deal with the consequences.
With that carefree thought, I nodded lightly.
“It’s natural you don’t understand. He’s simply insane.”
“…Is that so?”
“Some will lament the wasted treasures. The original owners, who were forced to surrender them, will spit blood in resentment.”
“Well…”
“The Golden Ghost Wolf King enjoys that.”
“…What?”
“He’s a lunatic who delights in watching people collapse because of money.”
Flowering Stage warriors inevitably had something broken within them.
No one was perfect, and reaching the Flowering Stage was merely accepting one’s imperfection and being reborn through it.
The only difference lay in how much that broken part caused trouble.
Though I didn’t tell Tang Sowol, the Golden Ghost Wolf King didn’t only collect treasures.
Sometimes, he collected people the same way.
And just like his objects, those deliberately left to break… likely did not meet good ends.
In that sense, the broken part within him was particularly vicious.
“People love gold because with enough of it, most things can be done.”
“Not everything.”
“That’s why I said most.”
Shrugging, I continued—speaking of things widely known before my regression, yet known now only to his closest aides.
“Those who killed his sister likely believed that with enough money, everything could be resolved. Even if they strangled a courtesan by accident, as long as they paid the proper blood price, it would be fine.”
“…Ah.”
It was common. Selling a daughter for lack of money. And then desperately saving to redeem her—only to be too late.
“In Zhejiang Province, it’s nothing unusual.”
“Was that because of the Black Lotus Sect?”
“No. The opposite. Zhejiang was like this from the beginning. That’s precisely why the Black Lotus Sect took root here.”
If anything, after the Black Lotus Sect formed, minimal regulations arose and conditions slightly improved.
There were more minor issues, but the truly horrific incidents decreased.
“So that’s why he became obsessed with money and took pleasure in ruining others with it? Like a form of revenge—returning what he suffered?”
“If it had been that simple, it would have been better.”
“…It wasn’t?”
“Before he could gather enough money, he received his sister’s corpse. And then he reached a different conclusion.”
Even if you forcibly took another man’s daughter, turned her into a courtesan, and killed her—
As long as you had money, you could settle it.
After that realization, he amassed wealth by any means necessary.
That was why he dipped into every kind of crime.
Illegal acts were dangerous—but profitable.
“What the…”
“Surprisingly, it’s true.”
“Then why become a martial artist rather than a merchant? If it was for money, that would’ve been better.”
“Merchants may earn more money. But to protect it, don’t you need strength?”
Brothels and merchant guilds paying tribute to nearby sects was commonplace.
Of course, his martial talent exceeding his commercial talent also mattered.
Most matters could be resolved with gold.
But some were exceptions.
The Golden Ghost Wolf King rejected that premise entirely.
He believed that with money, anything was possible.
Before my regression, he had dangerously tested the waters between the Orthodox and Unorthodox Alliance and the Demonic Cult because he believed so.
“And that’s precisely what I intend to target.”
“…You mean you’ll present something that can’t be solved with gold as a bargaining chip? He’ll try to seize it to deny its very existence.”
“Exactly.”
“You had it all thought out! Enlightenment? Or an elixir or martial art that can’t be bought? Whatever it is, I hope it goes well, Brother Cheon!”
“Thank you.”
Tang Sowol’s enthusiastic gaze burned at close range.
Perhaps it was the proximity of her breath—but more likely because I was thinking of something entirely different.
Turning away from her burdensome stare, I found myself facing an even more burdensome Twin-Ghost Killing Sword.
“As expected of White Moon Sword Lord! We of the Black Lotus Sect knew roughly what happened in Golden Ghost Wolf King’s past, but we never understood his thinking. Now that you’ve explained it, his actions make perfect sense!”
“Is that so.”
“Yes! We assumed it was merely the aftereffects of qi deviation. But if he had his own reasoning… after this war, the Black Lotus Sect may find it much easier to control him!”
“That’s fortunate.”
At least Tang Sowol was pretty.
I had no desire to watch a middle-aged man older than my former self flush in excitement.
With a long sigh, I quickened my steps.
Soon we arrived before the gate.
But something was strange.
“No one’s here.”
“Not even a gatekeeper—that’s odd.”
I set Tang Sowol down.
She seemed relieved to feel the ground beneath her feet, pressing her soles against it with small, satisfied motions.
Smiling faintly, I placed my hand on the gate.
“Well, if we go inside, they’ll be there.”
“And if they’re not?”
“Then we’ll wait for them to return.”
Grinning, I pushed the gate open.
Creak—
With a heavy groan, the doors parted.
And beyond them—
…
A multitude of mercenaries stood fully prepared, weapons leveled at us.
And at the center, glaring this way, stood the Golden Ghost Wolf King.
Sharp eyes. A twisted smirk.
A middle-aged man in practical martial attire, yet extravagantly embroidered with gold thread and adorned with gaudy decorations.
“Well, well. If it isn’t the White Moon Sword Lord, who’s been tearing through Zhejiang Province under the Black Lotus Sect Lord’s name. What brings you to my home?”
“This is surprising. I wasn’t careless, yet I sensed nothing. A formation?”
“Hah. Care to guess? It cost a pretty penny—but it’s worth every coin.”
I activated my Heavenly Insight Eye, which I usually kept suppressed due to its excessive input.
Immediately, I saw the flow of energy dividing inside and outside the gate.
It didn’t block outward leakage.
Rather, it harmonized the internal qi with the surroundings.
Unless one could see qi like I could—or possessed exceptional sensitivity—it would be nearly impossible to notice.
Following the formation’s flow, I spotted several concealed artifacts at its core.
Each one possessing a mystique worthy of being called a sacred relic.
“I see. You constructed a formation with relics stolen from all over.”
“I’ll thank you for that. Every time you stir things up and a sect falls, I have more to pick from.”
“When you say it like that, it sounds as though I exterminate a sect wherever I go.”
I’d only wiped out a few minor black-path gangs, the Black Heaven Sword Gate, the Hwangbo Clan, the Sama Clan, the Thousand Poison Gate, the Seventy-Two Green Forest Forts, and the Assassins of Sal Valley.
Of course, I’d destroyed many buildings fighting Blood Buddha—but full exterminations weren’t that frequent.
“Are you insane?”
“How many sane people are there compared to me?”
“So you are insane.”
He nodded with conviction.
Being called mad by a madman didn’t feel pleasant.
“Let’s resolve this peacefully through dialogue. What do you want?”
“Ha! Even you feel pressured by this many experts, White Moon Sword Lord? Fine. My demand is simple. Whatever your scheme is, stop trying to drag me into it.”
“Is that all?”
“Of course not. I can’t trust the word of a vicious Sword Demon. Leave your fiancée as a hostage.”
“That’s refreshingly bold.”
“The entire wealth of the Tang Clan. And if you sever one of your own arms, I’ll return her unharmed.”
“And that’s it?”
“Yes. A merciful offer, wouldn’t you say?”
He cackled.
He had clearly prepared thoroughly.
Nearly a hundred mercenaries. Half of them at the Peak Stage or above.
And the rest, though weaker, wielded forbidden weapons the Imperial Court wouldn’t tolerate lightly—spears, bows, even explosive devices like Thunder Heaven Bombs.
If discovered, it would be disastrous.
But the formation concealed them for now. And once the immediate danger passed, he could bribe officials to cover it up.
Even a Flowering Stage master could not fight while protecting another in such a situation.
The moment I entered through that gate, Tang Sowol’s life had, in theory, become a hostage.
Yes. In theory.
“I’ve heard enough. Now it’s my turn.”
“Hahaha! Go on, let’s hear it.”
“Kneel immediately and swallow poison. If you do, no one will die today. A peaceful resolution, wouldn’t you agree?”
“…What?”
“Actually, just die. I intended to spare and use you, but killing one more won’t matter.”
“Do you even know what peace means—?!”
Ignoring his incredulity, I drew my sword.
Shrring.
This time, with the blade unsheathed—
It was no longer negotiation.
It was a threat.
