Red Light District's Martial God-Chapter 44

Inside White Fragrant Pavilion, a faintly burning lamp cast long shadows across the inner chamber.
Jaseong set his sword against the table and listened to Hyang-I's .
"What's the source of this information?"
"It's from Ferryman Elder Jang. Do you remember those wandering swordsmen from Wandering Warrior Village—the ones he had verified earlier?"
"Yes. Among the wanderers, they were considered trustworthy."
"All those swordsmen from Wandering Warrior Village have either been killed or have gone missing."
"... Killed?"
Jaseong's eyes twitched.
Now that the Hao Sect's Ansun Branch was growing in strength, he'd begun thinking of bringing those swordsmen over.
Hearing that the painstakingly vetted ones had been killed naturally made Jaseong's eyes narrow sharply.
"That's not all. Elder Jang says even the children of Wandering Warrior Village have started disappearing."
"... Whose doing is this? The Demonic Cult, perhaps?"
After their defeat in the Great Heavenly Demon War, the Demonic Cult vanished from the Central Plains, but they still occasionally raided villages and abducted children, raising them as members of the Cult.
Jaseong's suspicion was hardly unjustified.
But the name that came from Hyang-I's lips was not what he expected.
"Based on all the gathered information, it's most likely the work of Three Souls Hall."
"... Three Souls Hall?"
"Yes. Those human traffickers of the Dark Path, infamous throughout Guangdong Province."
Jaseong's eyes flickered. Lee Rin, recognizing the name too, put down the candy she was holding and glared fiercely.
"Three Souls Hall? I even heard of their infamy up in the North Sea. My mother told me to be careful around them..."
Hyang-I continued,
"Since Wandering Warrior Village is close to Ansun, there's a high chance that Three Souls Hall could target Ansun as well. And if they do, it'll be hard to notice at first. Three Souls Hall's specialty is raiding civilian homes in the dead of night and abducting people. The courtesans of the Red Light District would be especially easy prey for them."
Her voice trembled slightly.
As the lamp in White Fragrant Pavilion flickered in the breeze, the atmosphere in the inner chamber grew heavier.
At that moment—
〈Student, serve Heaven's Mandate.〉
Suddenly, Lü Dongbin's majestic voice rang out in Jaseong's mind.
Then—
Flap—flap—
A semi-transparent slip of paper fluttered down like a butterfly before Jaseong's eyes.
On it, powerful letters stood out in jet-black ink:
[5th Heaven's Mandate—Eliminate the Middle Evil (中惡).]
Middle Evil?
Previously, when the Kaiyang Society and Seven Freaks of Zhejiang appeared, 'Little Evil' was the expression used.
But now that it said Middle Evil, did it mean Three Souls Hall was a stronger enemy than the Seven Freaks? Or was there something more behind them?
Whatever the case, upon seeing this Heaven's Mandate, Jaseong's hesitation melted away.
"We can't let Three Souls Hall run rampant in our sector. We strike first."
"Huh?"
"Before they cross over into Ansun, we'll attack their base and root them out."
"...!"
"So at first light, summon Ferryman Elder Jang. We need to head to Wandering Warrior Village immediately."
Unlike the previous mandates, the instructions were crystal clear, so Jaseong's decision was only natural.
'Three Souls Hall...'
Faced with his fifth Heaven's Mandate, a cold energy lingered in Jaseong's eyes.
* * *
At dawn the next day.
Having left Silent Traveler and Little Devil in charge of the branch, Jaseong headed for Wandering Warrior Village.
By his side were Gu Janghu and Lee Rin.
The three covered their faces with human-skin masks and boarded Ferryman Elder Jang's ferry.
Chwaaa—
The waters of the Yangtze stretched endlessly, gleaming like an immense bolt of silk.
Mountain peaks stacked behind the riverbank, rising majestically amid the morning mist,
while the sun, rising between them, cast a crimson glow and long shadows across the water.
"Wow... The Yangtze in the Central Plains is breathtaking every time I see it."
Feeling the tranquil mood, Lee Rin leaned against the railing, exclaiming in admiration.
But when the ferry finally reached its destination, her words fell silent.
Creak! Creak!
At the mouth of the village, an old crone with wild, white hair plucked her creaking pipa, producing an eerie sound.
Behind her stood a weathered wooden sign:
[Wandering Warrior Village (浪人村)]
Beyond that, a desolate settlement was revealed—one fit to be called ruins.
Most of the walls had collapsed, the wooden fences encircling the thatched houses were half-rotted and half-uprooted.
Amid toppled stone walls and battered cottages, swordsmen with blades at their hips prowled about.
They were the descendants of destroyed martial clans, or wanted members of the Evil Faction.
Their eyes held a heavy weight, and battered swords hung from their backs.
"So this is the infamous Wandering Warrior Village. The air is thick with gloom..."
Lee Rin glanced around warily, clutching her bag of sweets, her gaze sharp with vigilance.
"There are several villages like this in the Central Plains, aren't there?"
"Yes. Even so, there's something particularly sinister about the air here."
Jaseong strolled through the village, recalling Hyang-I's information.
[Four experts here stand out in Wandering Warrior Village.
White-haired Blade Elder (白髮刀翁), known as a reclusive master;
Scarlet Scythe Lady (血鎌公女), who wields a massive sickle;
Thousand Daggers Lecher (千短好色), famed for throwing twelve daggers at once;
and Dark Needle Venom Empress (暗針毒后), notorious for her poison darts.
Not only are they formidable martial artists, but each uses unique, unusual weapons.
Especially be wary of White-haired Blade Elder. Rumor has it he once killed an elder of the Nine Great Sects—do not take him lightly.
Of course, your main concern should be Three Souls Hall.
Their martial prowess is renowned throughout the Central Plains.
Please, be careful.]
Remembering Hyang-I's warning, Jaseong scanned the street.
Among the swordsmen, he sensed no expert's profound aura yet.
"What should we do now, leader?"
Gu Janghu asked softly.
"What's your suggestion?"
"How about we keep our abilities hidden and quietly gather information on Three Souls Hall?"
... Conceal our strength.
Jaseong wasn't thrilled, but nodded. Coming from Killing Valley, Gu Janghu was skilled in infiltration.
Before long, the group reached an inn in the middle of the village—Sword Guesthouse.
Ferryman Elder Jang's information held that the Sword Guesthouse was Wandering Warrior Village's hub for both news and job offers.
Jaseong, Gu Janghu, and Lee Rin decided to stay here awhile to gather information about Three Souls Hall.
Creak—creak—
Entering the Sword Guesthouse, which echoed with an eerie din, the entire crowd of swordsmen turned their gazes at once.
"Never seen these faces before..."
"Must be newcomers."
The looks in the wanderers' eyes were not only suspicious, but edged with lethal intent.
Strangers were rare here, so their eyes glittered like starving wolves.
Among them, two figures caught Jaseong's attention.
In one corner stood a middle-aged woman beside a giant scythe.
She wore clothes as red as blood.
'That must be the Scarlet Scythe Lady Hyang-I warned about.'
Opposite her sat a middle-aged man with a line of daggers hanging from his belt.
He leered at Lee Rin with a lascivious grin.
[That man must be one of those four experts Hyang-I big sis mentioned—Thousand Daggers Lecher. I hear he's a notorious womanizer... Um, great hero, what's "lecher" mean? There's no word like that where I'm from in the North Sea...]
Lee Rin asked via silent transmission.
Around Scarlet Scythe Lady and Thousand Daggers Lecher sat many other swordsmen, likely their subordinates.
Then, several swordsmen started jeering at Jaseong and his group.
"You brats are brave to step into Wandering Warrior Village."
"And you, girl, why not take off your hat and show us that pretty face?"
At the taunts, Lee Rin frowned, but since Gu Janghu had just suggested they lay low until Three Souls Hall appeared, she bore it for now.
Besides, with the numbers, a fight here would pit them against around thirty swordsmen, plus two of the four local experts: Scarlet Scythe Lady and Thousand Daggers Lecher.
"Judging by her curves, she'd be a fine treat, eh?"
"Should we give you a proper initiation? Heh heh."
So, even as more jeers followed, Lee Rin struggled to ignore them.
But just then, an unexpected remark slipped from Jaseong's lips.
"Seems there are many in this village with no attachment to life."
Jaseong's eyes glinted coldly beneath his human-skin mask.
Next—
Goooo—
His overwhelming aura swept through the inn.
Empowered by Humanoid Ginseng, his internal power and force were on a whole new level.
The jeering swordsmen flinched.
Scarlet Scythe Lady and Thousand Daggers Lecher, too, stared at Jaseong, eyes narrowed in surprise.
[Gu Janghu, Lee Rin. Draw your swords.]
[Huh? But great hero, if we're to collect information on Three Souls Hall...]
[It's fine. Trash like this can be disposed of quietly.]
True to his nature, Jaseong was nonchalant.
Besides, he already had a way to deal with the inn's swordsmen silently.
'Just what is he planning...?'
Perplexed by his tone, Gu Janghu and Lee Rin brought their hands to their sword hilts regardless.
And just then—
"Stop."
Abruptly, a frail voice echoed from the corner of the inn.
Jaseong turned his gaze.
An old man with white hair, donned in old martial robes, sipped from a wine cup.
'... When did he get there?'
Not just Jaseong—even most in the inn hadn't sensed the old man's presence.
This was the reclusive White-haired Blade Elder, whom Hyang-I had warned about.
His white hair shimmered like moonlight, and though his belt dagger looked ordinary, it exuded an indescribable aura.
As he spoke, the swordsmen's faces tightened at once.
Even Scarlet Scythe Lady and Thousand Daggers Lecher grew tense.
White-haired Blade Elder lifted his wine and spoke,
"There's one rule in this Sword Guesthouse."
"?"
"This is the only inn in Wandering Warrior Village. Therefore, you mustn't recklessly draw a sword here. If the guesthouse gets wrecked in a fight, there'll be no place for us wanderers to share a drink."
His tone was gentle, yet each word carried overwhelming force.
And at that moment—
Swish! Thunk!
The elder flicked his hand lightly, and one of Thousand Daggers Lecher's men dropped with a shriek—the wine cup, propelled by his internal power, struck the wanderer's temple.
"Kehek!"
Blood gushed from the man's head as he howled.
"That's enough of a lesson. So why not leave it at that, young ones?"
White-haired Blade Elder offered Jaseong a benevolent smile.
With that, Jaseong released his grip on the sword hilt, his face losing its edge.
'I'll need to keep an eye on that old man, at least.'
* * *
And so, Jaseong's group took rooms at the Sword Guesthouse without further upheaval.
After the elder's display, the wanderers fell silent like mute fish, and Jaseong's group took a room upstairs to rest.
A few hours later, night fully descended upon the Sword Guesthouse.
"Is everyone ready?"
Jaseong asked quietly.
His face was already shrouded in a black cloth.
"Yes."
"All set."
Gu Janghu and Lee Rin answered together, both clad in black clothes.
Gu Janghu especially had multiple hidden weapons strapped to his body.
"Let's go."
At Jaseong's signal, the room's window slid open soundlessly.
Swish, swish, swish—three shadows darted across the rooftops of Wandering Warrior Village.
'... Three Souls Hall only operate under cover of darkness. Tonight, we might cross their path.'
The fifth Heaven's Mandate—eliminate Middle Evil.
To fulfill it, Jaseong became a hunter in the night.