Chapter 620
Chapter 620
Chapter 620. The Circumstances of That Land (2)
There is a problem? (MC)
I tilted my head and asked the Grand Clan Head.
“What is that problem?” (MC)
“It is not something to explain here…… Let us go together.” (Grand Clan Head)
“Understood.” (MC)
We rose from our seats and followed the Grand Clan Head.
On the way, we passed through the market streets of Luoyang, and like Beijing, the mansions and the market streets here were separated.
“It is here.” (Grand Clan Head)
When I saw the place the Grand Clan Head had guided me to, I could only blink.
Huh? This place is……. (MC)
This was a very suitable place for a Trading Company site.
It was neither too far from nor too close to the Martial Alliance, and it was not too out of the way from the market streets either.
On top of that, roads opened out in all directions, and there was even a fairly large manor.
It was not very old either, so with just a little repair it would be usable right away, which would save both money and time.
However, the “problem” the Grand Clan Head had mentioned was enough to wipe out all those advantages.
Because this place was the famous “haunted manor.”
Even in my previous life, I remembered that this manor declined under its infamy and, in the end, remained unused until the day I died.
The first owner of this manor had been an incredibly wealthy man.
It was a manor he had built after buying up the private homes on this site and clearing them all away.
But the Manor Master and his family were said to have been slaughtered overnight due to a mysterious incident.
The one remaining heir, who had survived because he had been away at the time, sold the land.
As it happened, the market district had been expanding then, and it was an outstanding location, to the point that the Grand Clan Head had said it perfectly matched the conditions I wanted.
So it had sold smoothly, but after that, strange phenomena were said to have occurred here.
Strange sounds heard from places where no one was.
Objects that suddenly moved.
Phenomena that could only be explained as hauntings, such as something tugging at one’s ankle or tapping one’s back when one was clearly alone.
After changing owners several times like that, it had eventually become a place where no one lived.
Some said the Manor Master and his family, who had died unjustly here, were angry, while others said it was a prank by someone who had sneaked inside.
In the end, even the Martial Alliance, unable to keep watching, stepped in to resolve the matter, but it was not solved.
And so this place remained as one of the Martial Alliance’s failures and disgraces, an irritation like a piece of meat stuck between the teeth.
“It seems you know what kind of place this is. Then you must also have guessed why I said there was a problem.” (Grand Clan Head)
“Yes.” (MC)
I nodded.
“You must be wondering why I introduced this place to you.” (Grand Clan Head)
I was curious. Why, of all places, had he introduced a place like this?
“First of all, it meets all the conditions you wanted. Not a single thing is lacking.” (Grand Clan Head)
The Grand Clan Head’s words were true.
“And there is something very important.” (Grand Clan Head)
The Grand Clan Head spoke with a playful smile.
“The fact that not only this land, but even the manor itself, costs one hundred nyang of silver.” (Grand Clan Head)
“……Pardon?” (MC)
For a moment, I doubted my ears.
One hundred nyang of silver? (MC)
Even an ordinary tile-roofed house easily exceeded one hundred nyang of silver, and this place was one hundred nyang of silver? (MC)
No matter how haunted it was, considering the size of the land and the manor…… it was a price that made no sense.
“One hundred nyang of silver? Did I hear you incorrectly?” (MC)
“You heard correctly. It is one hundred nyang of silver.” (Grand Clan Head)
“How is such a price possible?” (MC)
“They lowered the price to sell it off quickly, then lowered it again, and kept lowering it, until it reached one hundred nyang of silver.” (Grand Clan Head)
Hearing the Grand Clan Head’s words, I understood.
It was obvious, but in the end, price changed according to the circumstances of the buyer and the seller.
With this manor, the seller was in a hurry while the buyers were not, so the price had continued to fall.
When I thought of the money that had gone into expanding the Luoyang branch of the Eunhae Trading Company in my previous life…… one hundred nyang of silver was practically free.
But it was also true that if I could not resolve the problem the Grand Clan Head had mentioned, it would be nothing but a white elephant.
As I was thinking that over, the Grand Clan Head spoke cautiously.
“And in fact, the current owner of this place is one of the people of the Jegal Family.” (Grand Clan Head)
“Pardon?” (MC)
He turned his head as if embarrassed and said,
“He bought it, saying he would research this place, but after something or other happened, he turned pale and came out as though fleeing, and since then he has not gone anywhere near it. He also refuses to say anything at all about what happened.” (Grand Clan Head)
Was the Grand Clan Head introducing this place to me for the sake of someone from his own family?
But I felt that it was not simply for that reason, and that there had to be some other reason.
The Grand Clan Head continued.
“If you have any thought of looking around inside, say so. I will give you the key.” (Grand Clan Head)
“You have the key, Grand Clan Head?” (MC)
“He left it at the residence.” (Grand Clan Head)
Ah……. (MC)
“As you said, the conditions and location are perfect, and the price is good as well, but the fact that there is a problem bothers me. Would it not be better to choose a place without problems if possible?” (MC)
“You are right. But I introduced it because I thought you would be safe even here.” (Grand Clan Head)
“What do you mean by that……?” (MC)
“There is one person who examined this place and came out without any problem.” (Grand Clan Head)
The Grand Clan Head continued.
“He looked around this place and said he would purchase it and use it as something like a branch base. But that visit was his final visit to Luoyang.” (Grand Clan Head)
Who in the world was it? (MC)
That question of mine was answered by the Grand Clan Head’s telepathy.
* I mean the previous Snow Wind Palace Head, and my dear friend. (Grand Clan Head)
Ah! (MC)
“So I would like you to keep this place in mind as well. Shall we go see another place now?” (Grand Clan Head)
The Grand Clan Head guided me to a few more places.
But the haunted manor I had seen first continued to flicker before my eyes.
It must have been because the price was so cheap and the conditions of the site were perfect.
On top of that, the fact that the previous Snow Wind Palace Head had chosen it meant there had to be some reason.
.
.
.
That evening.
In the end, I came to the site where that haunted manor was.
It seemed I would have to examine it myself.
Because I was curious why the previous Snow Wind Palace Head had said he would purchase that land.
“Here, I brought the key.” (Palgap)
“I see. Then let us go in.” (MC)
“Yes.” (Palgap)
Perhaps it had not been maintained for quite some time, because the weeds had grown tall.
It was fortunate that it was winter. If it had been summer, it would have been swarming with bugs.
When we pushed through the grass that had grown high enough to pass our waists, the manor building came into view.
Whew, seeing it like this, it really is good. (MC)
It was not that there were no sites of this scale around here, but getting hold of them would be truly difficult.
Because they were already the sites of large Trading Companies or the manors of influential figures in this region.
Of course, I could forcibly take that land from them, but then I would have to accept their tears of blood.
I absolutely must not do that. If I did, I would be no different from the people I had dealt with until now.
“Haa…….” (MC)
“Why are you sighing again, sir?” (Palgap)
At Palgap’s question, I laughed hollowly.
“Seeing it like this, I really want it.” (MC)
“If you want it, can you not just purchase this place, sir?” (Palgap)
At those words, Warrior Jinyu spoke.
“Palgap boy, that is not something that can be said so simply. The infamy of this place is beyond imagination. Not only the Mosan Sect, but even the masters of the Wudang Sect could not resolve it.” (Warrior Jinyu)
He continued with a face full of wariness.
“To tell the truth, I followed because my Liege was going, but I am uneasy just from having entered this place like this.” (Warrior Jinyu)
Looking at him, I said calmly,
“Please do not be too uneasy. We are not that weak.” (MC)
“Of course. But when I think of my Liege’s safety, I cannot help but worry.” (Warrior Jinyu)
“It is all right. Then let us go in.” (MC)
We went inside.
Creeeeak.
The main gate opened with the sound of rusty hinges creaking.
The first thing that came into view was a broad courtyard.
And behind it, several buildings stood neatly in a row.
Heavy household items like furniture remained, but there were no expensive-looking things in sight.
Well, of course they would already have taken all those.
My guards were walking while keeping watch in all directions, as if they were fully aware that anything could happen.
From the outside, it looked like nothing more than an abandoned manor, but we absolutely could not let our guard down.
Warrior Jinyu was not speaking like that for nothing.
As I walked calmly forward, I examined the surrounding energy, but I did not sense any black path energy at all.
Then that meant it was not a prank or scheme of the black path.
Well, if it had been something on that level, the masters of the Martial Alliance would already have resolved it.
That was why it was even more puzzling.
We examined the manor thoroughly, but the thing we had feared did not occur.
It only confirmed once again just how attractive this manor and land were.
Well, it is only natural that nothing happened. (MC)
If something happened while someone was looking around this place, this house would not have been sold. (MC)
After thinking for a moment, I decided.
“I need to borrow this manor for a while.” (MC)
“Pardon? What do you mean by that, sir?” (Palgap)
“I think I will need to examine this place over some time.” (MC)
The next morning.
I went to the Jegal Family, met the Grand Clan Head, and expressed my intentions.
“So I intend to watch it for a few days.” (MC)
“You are saying the same thing as my dear friend.” (Grand Clan Head)
“Pardon?” (MC)
The Grand Clan Head spoke with a smile.
“I did not say it yesterday, but in fact, that fellow also stayed there for about four days and said he would buy the place.” (Grand Clan Head)
“I see. Then how much should I give you as the fee for renting that manor?” (MC)
“That is all right. If it is only for a few days, stay as comfortably as you like. You are a busy man too, so it is not as though you will stay there for more than a month, is it?” (Grand Clan Head)
“That is true. Then I will observe it for a few days and speak with you again.” (MC)
After that, I left the Jegal Family and headed back to that manor.
In my memory, none of the previous owners had lived there for more than a month.
Then something would happen within that period.
We entered the manor again, and Palgap cleaned the building that had a room connected to a bedchamber and a study.
It was where we would stay for the time being, so there was no need to clean the other places.
I said I would be fine alone, but everyone opposed it with desperate resolve, so in the end we decided to stay together.
By the time we had finished cleaning and arranging the household items like that, the day had already darkened.
I am tired. (MC)
I lay down on the bed.
It was an unfamiliar place, and a place where mysterious incidents occurred, but perhaps because there were warriors taking turns guarding me and I was very tired, I fell asleep quickly.
Nothing happened last night.
If there was anything special, it was that I had slept more soundly than expected.
I got down from the bed and began circulating my qi as usual.
Huh? (MC)
But before long, I felt something strange.
Vital energy flowed through the earth, and there were veins here and there where that pure vital energy gathered and was released above the ground.
Those veins were places where pure energy gathered, and in each of those places, sects or families of the white path murim had been established.
Whether they had knowingly done so or had done so unknowingly by instinct, I did not know.
I had not known at first either, but once my level in the Great Yin Ice Sea Divine Art reached the supreme peak, I began to feel it.
And the place where that pure energy gathered most strongly in the empire was this very Luoyang.
The reason the Martial Alliance had been established in Luoyang, and the reason many white path martial artists gathered here, was not only because transportation was convenient. The greater reason was that it was the place where pure energy gathered most strongly.
Such places were naturally highly effective for training inner arts.
For white path martial artists, this was a greater advantage than anything else.
And now, I could also understand why the previous Snow Wind Palace Head had tried to make this place into a branch base.
I had felt it while visiting the Martial Alliance several times, but that place had been established in the spot in Luoyang where pure energy gathered most strongly.
But though this place was not quite at the level of the Martial Alliance, pure energy also gathered here quite strongly.
When practicing the Great Yin Ice Sea Divine Art, the martial art of Snow Wind Palace, the best place was somewhere abundant in yin energy.
That was why Yangyang Martial Arts Academy was in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.
Snow Wind Palace would also gain good results from training in a place where pure energy was strong, but the problem was that it was difficult to find such places.
So as a second-best option, they had sought out a place abundant in yin energy.
How happy must the previous Snow Wind Palace Head have been when he learned of this place? (MC)
But considering that it was his final visit, he must have died in battle due to the Blood Cult’s attack. (MC)
Whew, calm down. (MC)
It would be a serious problem if my mind was not peaceful while circulating qi. (MC)
When I finished circulating my qi like that, I felt that the efficiency had been nearly twice as good as usual.
And I was not the only one who had felt that special quality.
“Somehow, after circulating qi here, my body feels lighter.” (Guard Warrior)
“My fatigue is much less as well.” (Guard Warrior)
At the guard warriors’ words, I nodded.
“I felt it as well.” (MC)
I looked around for a moment and continued.
“Truly, what is this place?” (MC)
Just then, Palgap brought breakfast.
It would be difficult to make breakfast here, so we had decided to buy food from an inn and bring it here.
After eating the breakfast Palgap had brought, I began my work.
I had been sitting at the writing desk and reviewing documents for some time.
Tap tap.
Something tapped my shoulder.
“Yes, Vice Officer Gwak.” (MC)
But suddenly, I realized.
That I was working alone right now.
Because, just in case, I had made Miss Seohyang stay at the inn.
And Miss Seohyang would call me aloud, not tap my shoulder.
In an instant, cold sweat broke out all over me.
It had finally appeared.