Chapter 075 – Ghost Domain and Ghost Gateway

That day, the elders, enforcers, and inner disciples of the Blood Blade Sect all sprang into action. Moving with lightning speed, they swiftly eradicated the remaining loyalists of the Wei Family who were hiding in various townships.

Meanwhile, on the main road that lay between the Sun Family’s Southview Town and the Blood Blade Sect’s Violet Haven, Tie Sha had set up a large armchair right in the middle of the street.

He leaned back, picking his nose in an unabashedly casual manner. Four followers stood behind him, each one unique in height, build, and appearance.

By dusk, the Sun Family arrived in force, led by an elder who frowned the instant he laid eyes on Tie Sha.

Tie Sha called out, “Old Sun! Where’re you all headed?”

The elder smiled. “Sect Master Tie, sitting here by yourself must be dull. So I came over to keep you company.”

Tie Sha laughed. “Why don’t we just stay put, then? You can’t break through, and our Blood Blade Sect has no particular grudge against the Sun Family. We’re not itching for a fight. If you’ve got some other grand plan, go show it off somewhere else. As for this spot here, let’s keep it quiet. Sound fair?”

The elder thought a moment, then nodded. “Fair enough. Holding you here is worthwhile in its own right.”

Tie Sha eyed the Sun Family group and suddenly asked, “Old Sun, how come I see some familiar Wei faces among you?”

Feigning ignorance, the elder replied, “You must be joking. The Sun Family is the Sun Family—no Wei people here.”

Tie Sha roared with laughter, then said, “All right, Old Sun. We have time to kill. How about a game of chess?”

The elder waved him off. “I’ll pass.”

Tie Sha only grinned, propped one leg over the other, and went right on picking his nose, as though he had all the time in the world.

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Swish! Swish! Swish!

Even though Li Yuan was only a ninth rank disciple, all the inner disciples had been deployed today. He was no exception. Wielding a large blade, he struck down enemy after enemy with swift, decisive blows.

By the time the moon sank and the ground gleamed white with frost, he brought his blade down again, killing a brawny man trying to flee.

Standing nearby, Zhao Chunxin praised him, “Your blade is really something. I feel like I’m witnessing the rise of another Senior Li.”

Li Yuan glanced at a list in his hand. “We’ve just finished clearing our assigned area. I’d guess everyone else is nearly done as well.”

Zhao Chunxin nodded. “In a few days, the sect’s new policies will roll out, and things will turn upside down again. Another war is on the horizon. Today, we only wiped out the Wei Family stragglers in Silver Creek, Parasol Town, and Violet Haven. But I’m sure some fled to the Sun Family.”

Li Yuan asked, “What about the government? Aren’t they supposed to keep the peace?”

Zhao Chunxin gave a dry laugh. “Keep the peace? The Red Lotus Rebels are still laying siege to the Jade Capital. The court has bigger worries.”

Li Yuan said, “You really think the rebels can take the capital?”

Zhao Chunxin shrugged. “The Great Zhou’s been around for centuries. Maybe their luck is running out... Who’s to say? Either way, it’s not our concern. Let them fight for the throne. It hardly touches us here in the backcountry.”

Li Yuan sighed. “True enough...”

They walked on, a few outer disciples, associates, and even some menial workers trailing behind. While Li Yuan and Zhao Chunxin had finished their sweep, others were still searching buildings, hauling corpses away, or looking for any valuables or information. Nothing of real worth turned up—just a few coins, some hidden weapons, and poisons. Handing them over to the sect was easier than stuffing them into their own pockets.

From somewhere in the distance came lingering shouts and the clash of steel. Li Yuan and Zhao Chunxin had no plans to help; tonight’s work had been carefully allotted to different groups, and meddling might only cause suspicion of trying to steal credit.

With time on their hands, Zhao Chunxin started chatting. “I’m guessing you haven’t been with many women; otherwise, you wouldn’t be so bent on settling down. Once a cultivator reaches sixth rank, we can extend our lifespans significantly. If you get too attached to a wife, you’ll lose focus on training. Miss your prime, and there’s no going higher.

“Take your senior sister’s advice. Settle your wife somewhere safe, then head to the black market and pick up a few beauties. The Wei Family had plenty of women. Chances are many ended up for sale.

“And the black market folks are clever. They never sell off everything at once, so you know there’ll be top-notch picks later. You’re already known there as Young Master Li. If you want to buy, you’ll get what you’re after.”

Li Yuan shook his head. “I’m still uneasy about what happened in the central market.”

Zhao Chunxin arched an eyebrow. They moved a bit farther from the crowd, and she leaned in. “You’re talking about

that

incident, right?”

Li Yuan nodded. He knew Zhao Chunxin tended to hear all the interesting rumors before he did. This felt like a good chance to ask, “What exactly is

it

?”

Lowering her voice, Zhao Chunxin said, “As long as we keep it isolated and don’t feed it, there’s nothing to fear.”

Li Yuan pressed on. “But there are so many women there...so much resentment...”

She cast a quick glance around to ensure nobody was eavesdropping. “I overheard the sect master mention it once. He called it a ghost domain. As long as the ghost gateway stays closed, it’s harmless. Even if you wander near it, you’ll be fine so long as you don’t barge inside.

“I’m guessing the guard house in that central market sat right on top of the ghost domain. That’s why the associates posted inside died, but everyone outside was unaffected. Our sect master was being cautious by sealing off the entire central market, creating a buffer zone.”

Li Yuan nodded thoughtfully and asked, “How does a ghost domain form in the first place? How can a ghost gateway be opened? And how do you even know a place has become a ghost domain?”

Zhao Chunxin laughed softly. “A ghost domain isn’t just born from brutal deaths or grudges. If it were that simple, half the world would be one by now, and the other half would’ve been wiped out.

“In reality, ghost domains are quite rare. From what the sect master says, they’re anchored to one spot and don’t just roam about. Wait, don’t tell me that’s actually what you’re afraid of, and that’s why you won’t buy any women from the Wei Family...?”

Li Yuan’s face reddened at Zhao Chunxin’s teasing. In truth, ever since he’d narrowly escaped death deep in Little Ink Mountain, he’d been overly wary—perhaps even traumatized. Still, he wasn’t entirely convinced Zhao Chunxin had the full story on these supernatural matters. It was better to be safe than sorry.

Zhao Chunxin let it drop and continued, “As for how a ghost gateway opens, I’ve no clue. Probably not something ordinary folks can control. And figuring out if some place has become a ghost domain usually costs human lives.

“People had been disappearing from the guard house for a while, and only when the sect master came out of seclusion was it confirmed. Anyone unlucky enough to run into a ghost domain...well, that’s just fate.”

Li Yuan listened quietly, feeling a bit more at ease. The greatest fear lay in not knowing, so if the sect master was aware of these things, at least someone had answers.

“Meat fields, ghost domains...” Li Yuan closed his eyes for a moment, thinking that perhaps someday, he would muster the courage to ask the sect master in person.

While they chatted, the fighting in the vicinity gradually died down, though searching continued. Dawn was near, yet doors remained shut tight.

Before long, several riders galloped down the street, shouting, “The last of the Wei Family loyalists are dead! It’s safe to open up and do business!”

Hoofbeats echoed amid the calls, and little by little, household doors creaked open.

Bloodstains were mopped away, while the corpses of the Wei holdouts were tossed onto an ox cart headed for some wasteland to be burned.

Fallen disciples of the Blood Blade Sect were placed in coffins and given proper burials in good soil.

With daybreak came the stir of daily life in the small county, returning it to a semblance of normalcy.

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

Ten days later.

Calm was restored to the three townships under the Blood Blade Sect’s control. The three townships previously belonging to the Wei Family, however, were still a bit chaotic.

At the same time, the Blood Blade Sect’s restructuring was finally being implemented. Inner disciples were sent out to the former Wei Family townships to establish martial halls and expand the sect’s influence.

Li Yuan was assigned the role of an inspector. Though that sounded like a serious position, most of the day-to-day tasks would be handled by the subordinates assigned to him. Those were the three ninth rank outer disciples Yu Mao, Tian Feng, and Yue Ling, plus a number of associates and menial workers.

In the Blood Blade Sect, such pairings weren’t strictly mandated; rather, everyone was encouraged to form their own teams, almost like mini factions.

Li Yuan’s three assistants were fairly average among the ninth rankers. Naturally, stronger disciples would prefer to follow an eighth rank leader or, better yet, the Fang brothers, whose talents were the talk of the sect.

Li Yuan’s own talents, despite having been personally accepted by Senior Li, didn’t shine quite as brightly in most people’s eyes compared to the Fang brothers.