The Legend of the Northern Blade-Chapter 190: Theres Always a Party Pooper (3)

The Silver Horse Merchant Association traveled south through Xiangyang, a small county in the northern part of Hubei through which the main road to Wuhan passed.

The shoulders of the young master, Yu Jang-Hwan, and his escorts were covered in dust, their faces etched with fatigue. Still, they were smiling. In just a few more days, they would arrive in Wuhan and finally see their families again.

It had been nearly a year since they had last seen them, so their excitement was only natural. A deep sense of anticipation was already visible on the escorts' faces.

Yu Jang-Hwan smiled as well. Thank goodness. I'm able to return them to their families without any trouble.

He was the young master, responsible for the safety of the entire group. He had no choice but to worry more than the others, and the mental anguish he had suffered over the past year was beyond words. Now, however, the end of that painful road was in sight.

Of course, even after arriving at the headquarters, he would not be able to rest for long before setting out on another trade journey. The simple fact that he could rest with a peaceful mind, even for a short while, was enough to make him happy.

Suddenly, his gaze turned toward Eun Han-Seol, who was sitting on the roof of a nearby carriage. Everyone else was grimy from the road, but she was the sole exception. Though there had been no place to wash, she was always spotless. It seemed as though not a single speck of dust had settled on her clothes.

By now, Yu Jang-Hwan had realized that she was no ordinary person. It was not only difficult for a normal girl to maintain such cleanliness, but it was also impossible for her to endure a journey that even grown men found difficult so effortlessly.

Which sect is she a disciple of?

He thought she must be a disciple of a prestigious sect, but no matter how much he wracked his brain, he could not even begin to guess which one.

His heart pounded fiercely as he looked at her. He had wanted to deny it, but he had to admit it now. He had fallen for Eun Han-Seol.

A sense of guilt washed over him. Was this an old man's folly? From her appearance, Eun Han-Seol was only about fifteen or sixteen. The fact that he, a man well over thirty, was fond of her was bewildering. He had no desire to give up, however.

If she knows my true feelings, she will come to like me too.

He possessed immense wealth and the backing of the Silver Horse Merchant Association, conditions any woman might dream of. Normally, he would never try to win a woman's heart with material things, but for her, he wanted to make an exception. She possessed a charm that was just that fantastical and dreamlike.

"I am telling you, your greed is excessive," the Head Escort, Yi Deung-Myeong, chided from beside him.

"What does age have to do with love?"

"Are you already talking about love? How much do you even know about that young lady?"

"Do I have to know everything?"

"Tsk, tsk! You cannot judge a woman by her appearance alone. She may look pure, but in reality, she could be a vicious devil lord of the jianghu."

"Aish! Of all the things to say..."

"I am just telling you not to let your guard down, because the jianghu is a vicious place."

"You really have a talent for ruining the mood."

Though he had spoken lightly, Yi Deung-Myeong had been feeling a sense of unease for some time now.

In all the time it took to get here, we have learned nothing about her. All we know is her name, Eun Han-Seol.

The ones to be most wary of in the jianghu were people like her, whose identities were unclear. One could get entangled in a troublesome affair without knowing what kind of fire one was playing with.

The one small relief was that they were now very close to Wuhan. Once they parted ways, his connection with Eun Han-Seol would be over. Yu Jang-Hwan might be disappointed, but he would get over it in time. The thought made Yi Deung-Myeong's heart feel a little lighter. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Just then, Eun Han-Seol, sitting on the carriage, suddenly frowned. The atmosphere felt wrong.

SHWIIING!

In that instant, a large spear tore through the air and flew toward her.

Just as Eun Han-Seol, who had sensed the danger, threw herself backward, the carriage was struck and exploded, sending splinters flying in all directions.

"A-Ambush!"

"Everyone, be on guard!"

"What is this?"

The nearby escorts quickly drew their weapons. Bewilderment appeared on the faces of Yu Jang-Hwan and Yi Deung-Myeong. Hubei, the province where Heaven's Summit was located, was known to have the best security in the Central Plains. They had never expected to be attacked here.

"Are they bandits?"

"Young Lady Eun?" Yu Jang-Hwan urgently looked for her and let out a sigh of relief when he saw her safe behind the wreckage of the carriage.

Unlike Yu Jang-Hwan, who had thought of her first, Yi Deung-Myeong moved swiftly. "Everyone, use the carriages as cover and watch all directions!"

"Yes!"

Before his orders were even finished, unfamiliar figures suddenly began to appear from all sides.

"Who are you? We are merchants of the Silver Horse Merchant Association!" Yi Deung-Myeong shouted.

The influence of the Silver Horse Merchant Association in Hubei was not small. Not only was it one of the ten great merchant associations, but it also had many dealings with the prestigious sects of the province. To attack them in Hubei meant becoming an enemy of those other sects as well.

One of the attackers stepped forward. "We are from the Zhongnan Sect!"

"T-The Zhongnan Sect? Why is the Zhongnan Sect...?" Yi Deung-Myeong stammered.

The Zhongnan Sect was one of the Nine Great Sects. Though the Silver Horse Merchant Association was a great power in its own right, it could not compare to a sect with hundreds of years of history.

"Is the great Silver Horse Merchant Association not ashamed to be joining hands with a witch?"

"What witch are you talking about?"

"You have been with her all this time and you still don't know?"

The one who roared at Yi Deung-Myeong was the Blue Mountain Sage. As the junior brother of the Blue Crane Sage, the Sect Leader of the Zhongnan Sect, he was famous for his fiery personality and powerful martial arts. Unusually, he was skilled with a spear, and it was he who had just thrown it.

Behind him was the Taoist from the Kunlun Sect, who had barely recovered his strength. The moment Eun Han-Seol saw him, she frowned slightly. Only then did she realize why they had come for her.

The Kunlun Sect Taoist pointed a finger at her. "Witch, how far did you think you could run? You tried to kill me to silence me, but with the help of the heavens, I met the martial artists of the Zhongnan Sect! It is not too late! Cripple your martial arts at once and surrender!"

His roar, laced with internal energy, sent the escorts of the Silver Horse Merchant Association staggering, their meridians shaken. Their faces turned pale with fright.

"A witch..." Eun Han-Seol muttered in a low voice.

She could not understand what she had done wrong to be called a witch. All she had done was fight to defend herself. The Kunlun Sect had attacked first, and the Kunlun Sect Taoist had branded her a witch.

"I am not a witch."

"Hmph! You intend to deny your own identity? We have no need to listen to a witch's excuses. We must subdue her at once!" the Kunlun Sect Taoist urged.

The martial artists of the Zhongnan Sect narrowed their encirclement.

This put Yu Jang-Hwan and Yi Deung-Myeong in a difficult position. They did not believe Eun Han-Seol was a witch. In all the time they had traveled together, she had never once done anything that went against the path of righteousness. There was no basis for this accusation.

Yu Jang-Hwan stepped forward. "Young Lady Eun is not a witch. You must have misunderstood something."

"You intend to defend a witch? Is that truly the will of the Silver Horse Merchant Association?"

"That is not it. We must first clarify the order of events..."

"I have been tracking the witch's trail all the way from Qinghai. In that process, my Master and Senior Brothers lost their lives to her. What more explanation is needed when martial artists of the great Kunlun have died at her hands?"

"That is..." Yu Jang-Hwan was at a loss for words and looked at Yi Deung-Myeong.

Yi Deung-Myeong instinctively realized that the Silver Horse Merchant Association was facing the greatest crisis since its founding. He had to resolve this matter somehow. The Nine Great Sects were like a single alliance. If the Zhongnan Sect had moved, it was only a matter of time before the others joined. And if the Nine Great Sects moved, Heaven's Summit would naturally move as well. The chances of the Silver Horse Merchant Association surviving with the entire world as its enemy were nonexistent.

"There must be some misunderstanding. While it's true that we traveled with her, we have no special relationship with her."

"You intend to disavow her like that?"

"Because it is the truth. On a long journey, one sometimes ends up with an unexpected traveling companion, no?"

"So you are saying you just happened to meet and travel together?"

"That is correct."

"Then withdraw with your escorts at once. The truth will be revealed later. If you remain by her side, however, we will have no choice but to see you as an accomplice."

Yi Deung-Myeong looked at Yu Jang-Hwan. He was well aware of his young master's feelings for Eun Han-Seol. The safety of the entire merchant association, however, was more important.

"Young Master, now is the time to withdraw."

"I-I cannot do that."

"If she is truly not a witch, the Zhongnan Sect will reveal the truth. There is no need for us to get involved and risk danger."

"But..."

"The Silver Horse Merchant Association comes first. Think of the greater good, Young Master."

"Keuk!" Yu Jang-Hwan grimaced and looked at Eun Han-Seol with a pained expression.

Even though she was surrounded by martial artists, there was no change in her expression. Seeing her as if she had given up on everything, his eyes trembled.

"Young Lady Eun, are you really a witch? Please answer me."

"......" Eun Han-Seol did not answer. There was no need to. She was not a witch and had committed no evil act to warrant being called one.

"Young Master, we must withdraw. We can find out the truth later."

Yi Deung-Myeong grabbed Yu Jang-Hwan's arm and pulled. Yu Jang-Hwan turned his head away from the silent Eun Han-Seol. The lives of his escorts and merchants depended on his every word and action. Though his feelings for Eun Han-Seol had not changed, they were not more important than their safety.

He gave an order. "All members of the Silver Horse Merchant Association are to put down their weapons and withdraw."

The escorts and merchants hesitated, looking at Eun Han-Seol for a moment. Though they had not spoken much, they had grown fond of her during the long journey from Qinghai. They could not, however, let the entire association be endangered because of her.

They put down their weapons and stepped back.

Eun Han-Seol simply stared blankly as they withdrew. She had no desire to blame them.

In the end, this was the extent of her connection with them. There was no affection, no pity. So there was no need to hate or resent them. Still, a corner of her heart felt bitter.

The goodwill of the world is so fleeting.

Suddenly, a surge of anger welled up inside her. The changed gazes and the cold atmosphere from the people who had looked at her so warmly were uncomfortable. She had done them no harm, yet they were looking at her as if she were a nuisance.

"Witch, kneel at once!"

"Subdue the witch!"

The voices of the Blue Mountain Sage and the Kunlun Taoist thundered, and the martial artists of the Zhongnan Sect shouted and rushed toward Eun Han-Seol.

Watching the martial artists surging toward her like a tidal wave, she muttered, "A witch. Does the world truly want me to become a witch?"

A storm raged inside her body. The furious energy that had been racing through her acupoints erupted all at once.

FWOOSH!

In an instant, her body was engulfed in a silvery-white aura.

After several decades, the Witch of the White Night had revealed herself to the world once more.