Chapter 274 - The Moon-Capturing Master

Dozens of miles from the shores of the Ruen Dynasty lay an island in the Eastern Sea called Bujue; home to the Ghostbane Association's headquarters. On the island stands a mountain, and atop its highest cliff rests a grand hall adorned in black and gold.

The Hall of Killing Intent.

It is said that both the hall and its foreboding name have existed since the founding of the Ghostbane Association. The name, meaning "It’s easy to kill someone, but hard to extinguish someone's ideals," reflects its purpose as the residence of successive sectmasters.

"Hua Dongsheng is inside?" Sikong Yan asked, tilting his head to look at the people behind him outside the Hall of Killing Intent.

Fu Yiran turned to glance at the four elders behind them.

The youngest of the four elders, Song Wenxuan, the Head Curator of the Secretariat Pavilion, spoke up. "At this hour, he should be."

Sikong Yan raised his head to look at the plaque above the hall, frowning. "With no real power, what does he do here every day?"

"

Ke ke ke

..." Wang Yuegui, the Scarlet Cloak of the Wingless Chamber, cackled. "The previous chief, Zhu Yin, found staying in the hall too stifling and insisted on going out for fun. That’s how he lost his head. Hua Dongsheng doesn't have enough heads to risk going out to play."

"Your laugh is strange, and everything you say is nonsense," retorted Luo Menghan, the Seal Keeper of the Execution Hall. He frowned as he tugged at Wang Yuegui. He turned to Sikong Yan and added, "Hua Dongsheng is clever. He knows he’s just a figurehead, so he spends his days indulging in pleasures within the hall and rarely ventures out."

"Pleasures?" Sikong Yan sneered. "Let’s see what he really does for ourselves."

The group ascended the steps. As they reached the hall’s entrance, Fu Yiran turned his head to glance into the shadows. He could sense someone watching them from the darkness. Han Linsheng waved his hand, and the oppressive feeling of being watched gradually faded away.

Han Linsheng noticed Fu Yiran looking at him and explained, "Those are the Native Tiger cubs of the Hundred Ghost Tower, the Hall of Killing Intent needs people to keep watch after all."

Sikong Yan paid no attention to this minor episode, walking ahead on his own and stepping into the hall first.

Despite the strong sunlight, the gloomy hall was dimly lit. Only a few lanterns placed at distant intervals provided light, making the hall appear all the more eerie.

"I like it here," Sikong Yan said suddenly. He turned and gave Fu Yiran a smile. "Doesn’t it remind you of the Suantian Shrine?"

Fu Yiran stared at Sikong Yan for a moment and whispered, "We could open the windows... it would brighten things up a bit."

Sikong Yan shook his head with a smile.

They were still only in the outer hall. Along the sides stood massive columns, each so large that two people together couldn’t wrap their arms around them. The columns were carved with reliefs of various ghostly faces, which seemed to writhe and twist under the unsteady lantern light, giving the illusion of demons dancing.

Fu Yiran frowned, seemingly uncomfortable with the setting as well. He said, "The Old Master didn’t like this place either. He once wanted to burn it to the ground, but for some reason he never carried it out... Maybe he forgot?"

"Forgot?" Sikong Yan smirked meaningfully. "As it happens... I think I know the reason."

Fu Yiran paused midstride. He wanted to ask more, but they had reached the end of the outer hall.

A large door loomed before them. The doorposts were carved in the form of asuras supporting the structure, and above the arch was a stone statue of an unknown fierce beast, baring its teeth in a menacing snarl at the group.

The stone doors were tightly shut, yet faint sounds of wailing and screams could be heard from within.

Sikong Yan furrowed his brow in confusion and glanced at the Four Elders behind him.

Song Wenxuan stepped forward, fiddling with the door mechanism. Slowly, the large stone doors opened, revealing the scene inside the main hall to everyone.

Among the Four Elders, one looked up at the sky, another stared at their toes, one fiddled with their clothing, and one wore a cold smirk. Fu Yiran stood dumbfounded, his mouth agape, while Sikong Yan studied the scene before him with great interest.

The cries and screams were now loud and clear.

Sikong Yan suddenly laughed, pointing toward the hall as if he wanted to say something. In the end, he only shook his head, saying nothing.

The main hall was a scene of utter depravity. On the ground, in the corners, and by the pillars were naked women. The cries and screams came from them. Their bodies were covered in tattoos of various designs. Some had their hands and feet shackled, others were bound to the pillars, some wore iron collars with chains. Some even had their limbs tied together, forcing them to crawl on the floor.

A glance around the hall revealed dozens of women. At the center, the lone man, Hua Dongsheng, sat completely naked on a jade couch. A woman with a chain around her neck was straddling him, moving up and down. The other end of the chain was held firmly in Hua Dongsheng’s hand.

Luo Menghan finally couldn’t hold back. He stepped forward and whispered into Sikong Yan’s ear, "These women were all collected on Hua Dongsheng’s orders. It’s not a major issue... he’s just a man of indulgence, so we let him be—"

Smack!

A crisp sound echoed through the hall.

Luo Menghan clutched his face, staring at Sikong Yan in shock.

"Worthless dog!"

Sikong Yan shook his hand, which was slightly numb, his face dark and menacing.

The commotion finally caught Hua Dongsheng’s attention. With a broad smile, he looked over and said cheerfully, "What a rare visit! The Four Elders of the headquarters coming to my Hall of Killing Intent. Is there an important matter you wish to discuss with your Sectmaster?"

Fu Yiran could see that Sikong Yan was struggling to suppress his fury, but he still mustered his courage to approach and whisper, "Hua Dongsheng was once known in the jianghu as the ‘Moon-Capturing Master,’ with a reputation for righteousness. He was famous for robbing the rich to help the poor... Who would’ve thought he’d turn out to be such filth."

"Drag him down for me!" Sikong Yan ordered sharply.

Fu Yiran didn’t understand why Sikong Yan was so enraged but had no choice but to comply, stepping toward the jade couch.

Even if Hua Dongsheng had no sense of propriety, he could tell by now that these strangers meant trouble. His expression grew serious as he pushed the woman off his lap and stood, unbothered by his own nudity, and asked, "Who are you?"

Fu Yiran glanced at Hua Dongsheng’s lower body and instinctively turned his face away. "Shameless scum..."

The moment Fu Yiran turned his head, Hua Dongsheng suddenly struck. Leaping down from the platform, he lunged for Fu Yiran! His fame as the Moon-Capturing Master was not undeserved; his skills were naturally focused on his hands. Bringing his palms together, he generated a gust of wind as he shouted, "Die!"

Crack!

The sound of bones snapping echoed pierced through the screams. With a simple motion, Fu Yiran reached out and grabbed Hua Dongsheng’s arms. Fu Yiran was faster than the degenerate Sectmaster, and with a single wrench, he cleanly bent both of Hua Dongsheng’s arms unnaturally backward.

Fu Yiran snorted disdainfully. "A mantis trying to shake a tree." Twisting his body, he yanked Hua Dongsheng by the arm and slammed the naked man hard onto the ground.

The fight ended in a single exchange.

Hua Dongsheng groaned, unable to move. He felt as if his body had fallen apart.

Fu Yiran looked at Sikong Yan tentatively. "Young master?"

Without even glancing at Hua Dongsheng on the ground, Sikong Yan walked toward the platform and said, "Chop him up and feed him to the dogs." Pausing, he pointed at the women in the hall. "And them too. Feed them all to the dogs."