Chapter 268 - The Storyteller by the Sea

"The Ghostbane Association, an organization deeply rooted in the jianghu, has existed for over a hundred years. Yet, no one can clearly pinpoint exactly when it was first established.

"Although it terrifies martial artists everywhere, one would think the Ghostbane Association is nothing more than a clandestine organization of assassins. The strange part, however, is that the Ghostbane Association has openly established branches in various locations.

"Given the nature of its trade, the Ghostbane Association naturally has many enemies. Many have approached its branches or headquarters, convinced of the saying, 'The monk may run, but the temple cannot.'[1] In the end, no one has ever returned alive, not even the legendary He Wenxian, who was once hailed as the man whose sword alone upheld half the jianghu.

"It seems there is no one in the world that the Ghostbane Association cannot kill. However, just how formidable they truly are is a question no one dares to ask anymore.

"An organization like the Ghostbane Association, no matter how powerful, cannot escape the label of being an 'evil sect.' The chatter of the jianghu is relentless, and no matter their strength, the Ghostbane Association cannot control what others say. Logically, such an entity would never be tolerated by the imperial court.

"There are rumors in the jianghu that the court attempted to take action against the Ghostbane Association decades ago. However, the results were baffling, the battle was thunderous in name but negligible in effect.

"Although the jianghu endured ten years of bloody conflict during that time, even witnessing the demise of the legendary Swordmaster He Wenxian, the Ghostbane Association emerged unscathed. In fact, they grew even more brazen in their actions afterward.

Bah

—

The crowd expressed their disdain.

This was a small fishing village near the Eastern Sea. The weather was sunny, and the sea breeze was gentle.

By the seaside stood a modest teahouse. Despite its simple decor, its business was booming. It was already packed to capacity, and many who couldn’t find seats stood under the shade of the awning, craning their necks to listen to the storyteller seated on the raised platform, passionately recounting tales.

A closer look revealed that most of the audience members were rough and unruly, exuding an unmistakable air of the jianghu that could not be hidden.

"Hey, storyteller"—A shirtless man raised his wine bowl with a grin—"so, according to you, even the imperial court is powerless against the Ghostbane Association?"

The storyteller flicked his folding fan open with a crisp sound and replied with a playful smile, "Who knows? It’s been decades. I doubt there are many left who understand what really happened back then."

Under the awning, a flamboyantly dressed woman covered her mouth with a delicate laugh. "Judging by your tone, storyteller, you seem to be one of those in the know. Why not share your insights with us?"

"

Haha

—" The storyteller let out two hearty laughs and winked at the woman. "My, you're a beautiful older sister, but there are some things... better left unsaid."

The flamboyant woman’s expression darkened, and she muttered angrily, "Who’s your older sister?! If you won’t talk, then don’t! There’s no need to mock me!"

The crowd in the teahouse watched the exchange with amusement. Those who recognized the woman chuckled quietly, while the uninitiated whispered to their neighbors out of curiosity.

"Isn’t that the old fox from Min Mountain? She’s here too?"

"The old fox from Min Mountain? Who’s that?"

"You don’t know? Brother, you must be new to the jianghu."

"That’s right, that’s right. I’d appreciate your wisdom, elder brother."

"See that woman over there? Gorgeous, isn’t she? But don’t be fooled—she looks like she’s in her twenties, but she’s actually in her forties. She uses her martial ability to drain yang to nourish yin in order to maintain her youthful appearance. She’s known in the jianghu as the Fox of Min Mountain. Brother, let me give you a piece of advice. Stay far away from that woman unless you want to die a miserable death..."

"Such sinister techniques truly exist in this world?! Thank you for the warning, elder brother."

The Fox of Min Mountain, unable to bear the crowd’s mocking remarks, snorted coldly and turned her head away in frustration.

The storyteller chuckled lightly, unfazed. He tapped the table with his folding fan and, seeing the crowd gradually quiet down, said, "Don’t you all want to know what really happened back then?"

The audience jeered at the storyteller.

"Booo!"

"Then go ahead and tell us!"

"Well I Can’t say, can’t say..." The storyteller shook his head and then pointed toward the vast sea. "But if you truly wish to know, you can go ask for yourselves."

Instinctively, the crowd followed the direction he pointed to and saw, where the sea met the sky, the faint silhouette of a mountain shrouded in mist. On the mountain, faint outlines of ornate buildings could be seen, layer upon layer of structures suggesting that plenty of people lived there.

The storyteller’s lips curved slightly as he smiled. "The main headquarters of the Ghostbane Association are right there. If you want to know, just go and ask."

Another round of jeers erupted.

"Bah!"

"You’re such a clueless storyteller!"

"Exactly! Doesn’t everyone know that once you go there, you never come back?"

"If we could actually go ask, why would we waste time listening to your nonsense?"

𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

The martial artists left, disappointed, streaming out of the teahouse. The storyteller called after them, "Hey! Hey—don’t forget to pay! You listened for free already, right? At least pay for the tea!"

When the crowd had dispersed, the teahouse felt much emptier. Apart from the storyteller and the teahouse staff, only one table of guests remained.

At this table sat two individuals, both wearing veiled bamboo hats that obscured their faces. Such attire was not uncommon among martial artists, so it didn’t attract much attention.

However, if anything did warrant a second glance, it was this, one of them was shrouded entirely in a black robe, while the other wore plain burlap clothing and carried a long weapon on their back. The weapon was wrapped in cloth, leaving its nature a mystery.

The storyteller jumped down from the platform, walked over to the table, and knocked on it. "Tea money, money for more stories."

"

Heh heh

..." A raspy and unpleasant laugh sounded from the black-robed figure. "You’ve been telling stories here by the Eastern Sea for three years. How much have you earned?"

The storyteller, unfazed, picked at his fingernails. "How much I’ve earned is none of your business. Don’t think I’ll waive the fee just because we know each other."

"

Hahaha

—" The black-robed man removed his bamboo hat, revealing a gaunt and withered face. It was Sikong Yan!

He laughed and said, "How about a discount then? Surely the great diviner, Bu Suanzi, isn’t so desperate for five copper coins?"

The storyteller, Bu Suanzi, smirked and retorted coldly, "Dear guest, what a thing to say. No matter how wealthy I may be, I’m no match for you. The entirety of the Ghostbane Association is under your command, and you’re shameless enough to stiff me five copper wen?"

Sikong Yan shook his head, waving his hand as if unwilling to argue further. He said, "Arrange a boat for me. I need to go to the main headquarters."

"I can arrange a boat," Bu Suanzi said, shaking his head lazily. "First, pay what you owe. Second, show me your credentials."

Sikong Yan chuckled in exasperation. "You..." He gestured toward the person beside him.

The other person removed their bamboo hat and pulled a token from their robe, tossing it onto the table. The token was covered in numerous scratches but still felt smooth to the touch, clearly it had many years behind it. The name "Sand Scourer" was inscribed on it.

Bu Suanzi seemed unsurprised, glancing casually at the token before muttering, "Old Fu, you’re still alive? Tough as nails, aren’t you?"

Fu Yiran didn’t take offense. He sipped his tea and replied calmly, "My life isn’t over yet. I’ll see if I can outlast you."

"Then you’re destined to lose," Bu Suanzi said, curling his lips. He turned to Sikong Yan and raised his chin. "Alright, where’s yours?"

Sikong Yan’s lips curved into a slight smirk as he looked sideways at Bu Suanzi and said slowly, "Are you sure... you want to see my token?"

Bu Suanzi’s pupils widened slightly, but he didn’t back down, replying firmly, "Of course I do—I’ve always wondered what your token is. My curiosity has been killing me..."

1. Basically means a person or group may try to evade responsibility or escape a situation, but their ties to something more permanent (like their origin, background, or obligations) remain and can be held accountable. ☜