novelraw Chapter 68 : Chapter 68
Chapter 68 : Chapter 68
Chapter 68 Ghost Blood Sect (1)
After walking for a while following the crowd, a large gate appeared before the group.
「Ghost Blood Sect」
A giant wooden statue stood on each side of the signboard written in elegant calligraphy, and the finely carved Divine Generals exuded an intimidating presence.
Unlike the sects of the Righteous Faction that decorated their manors simply, it was palpable that this place had paid quite a bit of attention starting from the entrance.
The Divine Generals were depicted raising a large spear and an axe respectively, and their eyes looking down at the gate were so realistic that they were quite imposing.
High stone walls stretched out to the left and right of the wooden statues, and sculptures about the size of a person were intricately carved here and there on the stone walls as well.
“What is this place? Just looking at the outside, it rivals the Sado Alliance.”
Ice Rakshasa, who had thought of it as merely a small local medical sect, made a surprised expression.
It was because the manor of the Ghost Blood Sect looked quite elaborately constructed.
“Well, you know the kids around here are nothing without their superficial style. They have to decorate it to this extent so no one thinks of picking a fight.”
At Yuk-ryong’s giggling whisper, Ice Rakshasa shook her head left and right.
“At this level, it's not just money, but it must have taken quite a lot of time. It would be better to further hone medical skills or martial arts in that time. What a waste of resources is this?”
Clicking her tongue tsk tsk, Ice Rakshasa stopped briefly near the main gate of the Ghost Blood Sect.
Observing the flow of people, everyone entering the Ghost Blood Sect was writing their names on a small table prepared on the right and putting down their gifts.
It seemed they were collecting the gifts here and moving them to the banquet hall at once.
Ice Rakshasa looked around at the group once and handed the wooden box to the Red Faced Ghost.
“I knew it would be like this. Hey. Write your name and let's go in.”
“Hehe. Understood. Just follow me.”
Without any particular resistance, the Red Faced Ghost received the wooden box Ice Rakshasa held out and started walking forward.
“The Yangtze Waterway Fortress also has some acquaintance with the Ghost Blood Sect, right?”
At Ice Rakshasa’s words, Yuk-ryong nodded and answered.
“Iron Mountain Wave Dragon’s side is on better terms with the Ghost Blood Sect than our side. That Red Faced Ghost guy probably owed them a few times too?”
At those words, the Red Faced Ghost looked back, grinned, and confidently started walking into the Ghost Blood Sect’s manor.
“Red Faced Ghost of the Yangtze Waterway Fortress.”
The young man receiving items at the table raised his head, confirmed the Red Faced Ghost’s face, and then bowed his head.
“It's been a while since your visit. How is the foot you received treatment for last time?”
“Keu heu heu. Are you asking that even knowing I'm a guy who lives trusting only his strength and body? Such a small wound heals after sleeping for a day. It's already completely healed without a trace.”
The Red Faced Ghost slapped his calf once.
“Anyway, with the bluffing. Don't you remember making a fuss that it aches whenever it rains?”
At Yuk-ryong’s words, the Red Faced Ghost turned his head, glared, and slammed the wooden box down on the table.
“The people behind me are my acquaintances, but they just stopped by briefly on their way to other business, so write it down as such.”
“I will do so. Welcome. Great Heroes.”
The young man, placing the wooden box the Red Faced Ghost presented to one side, stood up and bowed deeply to the group with clasped hands.
Patting the young man’s shoulder, the Red Faced Ghost triumphantly started walking into the Ghost Blood Sect.
“He must have gotten hurt quite a bit in the meantime. Seeing how they recognize him from the entrance.”
“Well, he's a guy who lives a bit roughly. It's quite possible.”
Shrugging his shoulders once, Yuk-ryong chased after the Red Faced Ghost and moved into the Ghost Blood Sect.
Jaun, following the two into the manor, looked up at a pavilion soaring high on one side.
Jaun whispered quietly to Ice Rakshasa, who turned her head toward the pavilion following his gaze.
“I feel Demonic Energy from that place.”
Jaun, looking up at the pavilion once more, took a step following the group.
Not long after, a large open space appeared before the group’s eyes.
Tables temporarily set up all over the open space and food piled high on them were welcoming the people.
“These days, there are many events that are 60th birthday banquets in name only, but they prepared properly here. They must have spent some money?”
As Ice Rakshasa spoke while looking around at the food on the tables, the Red Faced Ghost nodded and picked up a small bottle of liquor placed on a side table.
“The Ghost Blood Sect does good business, and the Sect Leader is quite generous with spending. Would you like a bottle too, my lady?”
“We aren't here to play, so do it in moderation. Drink that after the work is done. We have to move exactly as Young Hero Jaun orders.”
At those words, the Red Faced Ghost bowed deeply and put the liquor bottle into his bosom.
Meanwhile, Jaun, looking around at the people filling the open space, asked the Red Faced Ghost.
“Where do they do the medical examinations?”
“Examinations are done in the pavilion connected inside over there. The doctors here have decent skills. If you have any ailments, it wouldn't be bad to get examined while you're here.”
Looking at the several low pavilions the Red Faced Ghost pointed to, Jaun spread his senses widely.
“There are quite a few people receiving treatment, so is the number of doctors about that many too?”
“Of course. There must be about a hundred? Here, they teach medical arts just like other sects teach martial arts. The Sect Leader’s teaching skills are quite good, so the level of the doctors is also high.”
Scanning the place where people were lining up to receive treatment once, Jaun pointed to the high-soaring pavilion with his hand.
“Do you know what that place is?”
“Over there? That's the Ghost Blood Sect Leader’s residence.”
At those words, Jaun looked up at the high-soaring pavilion with a frown.
“Little Brother. Do we perhaps need to check that place?”
As Jaun nodded, the Red Faced Ghost scratched his head as if troubled.
“Hmm. Although I am acquainted with the Ghost Blood Sect Leader, I'm not in a position to go to the Sect Leader’s residence without hesitation.”
Ice Rakshasa approached Jaun’s side, stood side by side, and looked up at the pavilion.
“The Sect Leader’s residence... Since the Ghost Blood Sect doesn't belong to the Sado Alliance, even if I mention the Sado Alliance’s name, I think we'll be refused? In the end, we have no choice but to sneak in. Although with a sect of this scale, that won't be easy either.”
“Let's watch the situation a bit more. If attention gets diverted because of the banquet, an opportunity to enter might arise.”
Ban Cheol-hwi, who was looking around behind the group lost in thought, spoke up.
“Well, if it really doesn't work, tell me. I know a few methods to divert people's attention.”
At Ban Cheol-hwi’s words, the group looked back at him simultaneously.
Tapping Ban Cheol-hwi’s back, Ice Rakshasa giggled and answered.
“I don't know what our Young Hero Ban intends to show, but let's watch the situation for now. If needed, let's borrow Young Hero Ban’s strength.”
At Ice Rakshasa’s words, Ban Cheol-hwi nodded quietly.
****
The group, deciding to look around until the banquet started, moved toward the pavilion where examinations were taking place.
Most were ordinary people, and despite having to wait for quite a long time, the patients were standing in line quietly without a word of complaint.
The guidance of the Ghost Blood Sect disciples was quite systematic, and the level of the doctors who were examining quickly but meticulously seemed high.
“It's not easy to move this orderly.”
Ice Rakshasa clicked her tongue in admiration, and Jaun agreed.
“Indeed. I didn't realize it would be a medical family operating this properly.”
The Red Faced Ghost, who was listening to the two, suddenly clapped his hands as if he remembered something.
“Ah! Come to think of it, I think there was a rumor that the former-former Ghost Blood Sect Leader learned the Imperial Court's medical arts...”
“Aha. So that's why gifts are coming in through the government transport ship. If that rumor is true, they must still have connections there.”
“Ay. I hope they have as little connection with the government as possible.”
Behind Ice Rakshasa muttering with a bitter expression, Yuk-ryong looked at the doctors busily moving here and there in the pavilion.
“Imperial medical arts, huh. Hmm. Should I get my pulse checked once too.”
“If you're interested after this job is done, come and get checked. If they are really continuing the Imperial medical arts, wouldn't something be different?”
At the Red Faced Ghost’s words, Yuk-ryong nodded.
Ice Rakshasa, who was looking around, suddenly turned her gaze to the people flocking to the center.
“Seeing people gathering, it seems the starting time is near?”
“Let's go back. I need to see the Sect Leader once.”
At Jaun’s words, Ice Rakshasa took the lead and started moving toward the open space.
“Now, now. There is plenty of food, so please don't push. We hope you eat and enjoy as much as you want. Soon, the Ghost Blood Sect Leader will come up to the podium.”
Guided by a Ghost Blood Sect disciple, the group also took seats at one of the tables.
A large wooden podium was installed in the center of the open space, and the structure was such that banquet tables surrounded the podium.
Sitting at the table and watching the martial artists guarding strictly around the podium, Ice Rakshasa threw a question.
“Are those martial artists of the Ghost Blood Sect?”
“Yes, Sister. There are those who learn martial arts within the Ghost Blood Sect, and there are guests mixed in.”
Yuk-ryong looked around once and continued.
“Since they are doctors after all, the Ghost Blood Sect’s unique martial arts aren't that profound. Because it's difficult to supply martial artists internally, they recruit from outside, and I know that those who received great help from the Ghost Blood Sect’s medical arts volunteer to act as guests for a few months.”
At Yuk-ryong’s words, the Red Faced Ghost chimed in.
“That's correct. Since half are guests, the levels of the martial artists vary.”
Ice Rakshasa, putting a piece of food from the table into her mouth and listening to the Red Faced Ghost, fixed her gaze on a group of people slowly approaching the podium.
Ice Rakshasa, examining them here and there for a while, sighed and put down her chopsticks with a tuk.
Turning her head, Ice Rakshasa and Jaun’s eyes met in the air.
Ice Rakshasa asked the Red Faced Ghost.
“What is the level of the Ghost Blood Sect Leader’s martial arts?”
“Ghost Blood Sect Leader? I heard the Sect Leader doesn't know martial arts?”
Ice Rakshasa looked back at Jaun with a tense expression again, and Jaun also nodded with a stiff expression.
“Doesn't know martial arts my foot... I never thought there would be someone with this level of skill among martial artists not in my intelligence network in this region.”
“...At the very least, it seems to have well surpassed the First-Rate level.”
At those words, Yuk-ryong and the Red Faced Ghost looked back at Ice Rakshasa and Jaun simultaneously.
“Surpassed First-Rate? Then Peak Realm? Are you saying the Ghost Blood Sect Leader is that much of a master?”
“Mmm. I don't know if they reached the Peak Realm, but it seems to be at the edge of First-Rate.”
At Ice Rakshasa’s answer, Jaun also added.
“Martial arts skill is one thing, but the ability to hide energy is also top-notch.”
Ice Rakshasa closed her eyes, searched the surrounding energy, and said.
“There are one or two suspicious corners here. The Sect Leader is one thing, but the skills of the warriors guarding the Sect Leader are also at least Second-Rate level. It's definitely not the level of a small or medium-sized local sect.”
Just then, the Ghost Blood Sect Leader stepped onto the podium.
People who confirmed the Sect Leader’s appearance cheered.
“Waaaaah!”
“Gal Sa-ryeong! Gal Sa-ryeong!”
The Ghost Blood Sect Leader waved a few times toward the people chanting his name, calmed them down, and opened his mouth.
“Fellow Daoists of the Jianghu. I don't know what to do with myself as you celebrate this Gal-mo's 60th birthday so grandly today.”
“Waaaah!”
At the Ghost Blood Sect Leader’s single word, the venue shook again.
“We were able to come this far thanks to all of you, fellow believers of the Ghost Blood Sect. Although I invited you today under the pretext of my 60th birthday, this is actually a place to convey my gratitude for you, so please eat and enjoy to your heart's content.”
─ Clap clap clap.
Applause filled the surroundings.
“And just like every year, all treatments are free for a week starting today. The waiting time might be a bit long, but unless you are an urgent patient, I hope you wait generously.”
“Uooooooh!”
Loud cheers erupting from the surroundings filled the banquet hall.
“If the private talk is too long, it will only disturb your good time. I will cut it short here and say thank you once again to everyone who attended this Gal-mo's 60th birthday banquet. I hope you have a pleasant time before leaving.”
Finishing the short greeting, the Ghost Blood Sect Leader bowed deeply with clasped hands.