Chapter 34: The Great Clan of the Southern Yangtze—Wicked and Foolish

“Master Liu, there’s something I’ve been puzzled about,” Constable Sun said, gazing at Master Liu inside the prison wagon, voicing the question that had long troubled him.

“It’s you, Constable Sun. Go ahead and ask,” Master Liu replied, nodding without resistance.

“Do you know about the Demon Yin Sect?”

“The Demon Yin Sect?” Master Liu murmured, then shook his head before nodding again.

“What do you mean by that?” Constable Sun was even more perplexed by the contradictory gestures.

“Do you actually know about the Demon Yin Sect or not?”

“At first, I had no knowledge of the Demon Yin Sect. It was only after I got involved that I learned about them—by then, it was too late. Once you’ve boarded the Demon Yin Sect’s treacherous ship, you can’t get off.”

“I had no choice. The Demon Yin Sect wanted to wipe out my entire family. Both the martial world and the imperial court wanted to destroy us.”

“All I could do was serve the Demon Yin Sect like a dog, struggling to cling to life.”

Master Liu’s eyes were red, filled with both sorrow and helplessness.

The Demon Yin Sect was something from thirty years ago.

He had only amassed his wealth in the last ten or twenty years, still a decade after the Demon Yin Sect disappeared without a trace.

Moreover, he was no man of the martial world and had never even heard of the Demon Yin Sect.

The first time he heard the sect’s name was after striking a deal with Han Shan, who told him about the group.

Later, he had someone investigate and only then realized the Demon Yin Sect actually existed.

But by then, it was too late; he had already boarded their pirate ship. He had no choice.

Either the Demon Yin Sect would slaughter his family, or if his identity was exposed, both the martial world and the imperial court would annihilate them.

Either way, death was certain.

The difference was only when.

He chose to die later.

If not for his greed, if not for those strange people pulling a trick on him, he wouldn’t have ended up here.

In the end, it was all because of greed.

If not for greed, he wouldn’t have boarded the Demon Yin Sect’s ship. If not for greed, he wouldn’t have been exposed.

If not for greed, he would have fled long ago and not been caught.

One moment’s thought, the difference between life and death.

Such is fate.

…

Lu Yuan said nothing, as if none of this concerned him.

Because it really didn’t.

In the final analysis, this was Liu’s own doing, none of his business.

He had always respected others’ choices.

Letting go of the desire to help, respecting the fates of others.

…

“Besides you, are there others?” Constable Sun suppressed his emotions and asked again.

“Yes.”

“I’m not the only merchant funding the Demon Yin Sect. Besides me, there are nine others.”

“I’ve never met them, nor do I know their exact identities. I only know that among them, one is in Jiangnan, highly influential. Even Han Shan himself shows him utmost respect. He’s a prominent Jiangnan noble.”

Master Liu vaguely remembered that one of them held an extremely high status, even surpassing Han Shan himself.

Their power and wealth were formidable, providing most of the funds.

Han Shan’s attitude toward that person was completely different.

Their status in the Black Mountain Stronghold was on par with ordinary leaders or slightly higher.

But that merchant’s status was above all leaders, even higher than Han Shan.

All nine of them wanted to meet that distinguished figure.

However, Han Shan always guarded against them, only revealing that the person came from a noble Jiangnan family.

Their identities were kept secret; exposure meant death.

Only a few leaders who dealt directly with them knew their true identities.

Of course, aside from the chief leader, the others did not understand the true nature of the Demon Yin Sect.

They mistakenly thought those nine were just financial backers of the Black Mountain Stronghold.

In truth, they were the Demon Yin Sect’s purse strings.

…

“A Jiangnan noble family? That’s too broad.”

“There are too many.”

Constable Sun shook his head. Even with a clear lead, he couldn’t identify who they were.

Because Jiangnan noble families—this clue was vast.

Jiangnan had always been a fertile land, producing countless noble families through the ages.

Large and small noble families, their numbers enormous.

At least eight hundred, if not a thousand.

He only said ‘noble family,’ without specifying whether it was a great noble or a minor one, and the difference was huge.

Minor nobles were distinguished clans in specific fields—for example, long-standing merchant families or martial arts clans producing many experts.

Great nobles were vast family enterprises managing multiple sectors, wealthy and influential with strong backgrounds, developing along many lines. Such terrifying powers were local overlords. Even the imperial court would hesitate before moving against them.

“I don’t know. Han Shan has always been wary of us.”

“We’re just their purse strings.”

Master Liu lowered his head and sighed.

“Do you know where the Demon Yin Sect is located?”

“Do you think I’d know? I’m only a purse, not a true member.”

“The only Demon Yin Sect disciple I know is Han Shan. The rest, I don’t know, never contacted.”

As he spoke, his tone grew inexplicably aggrieved.

Because of the Demon Yin Sect, his family was nearly wiped out.

…

Yet throughout, he never truly joined them.

He was just a blood bag for the Demon Yin Sect.

It was painful, humiliating.

The Demon Yin Sect was truly a demonic, evil cult, born of wickedness.

Deserved to be eradicated by the three forces combined.

“Any other questions?”

“How long have you been involved with the remnants of the Demon Yin Sect?”

“Almost ten years.”

“Before Han Shan founded the Black Mountain Stronghold, I already worked with him.”

“My business in the Northern Desert began to flourish thanks to his help.”

“A few years ago, he suddenly left the Northern Desert, came near Black Mountain City, and established the Black Mountain Stronghold.”

“Northern Desert? Has he always been there?”

“Yes, in recent years, he’s stayed in the Northern Desert. You know, Constable Sun, that place is notoriously remote, and news from outside rarely reaches there.”

“No wonder. I was puzzled. As a fifth-rank martial artist, he should have roamed the martial world for years and surely heard of our chief constable’s reputation.”

“Turns out he’s from the Northern Desert.”

“Well, that explains it.”

“The top five leaders also come from the Northern Desert, all Han Shan’s trusted men.”

“Oh, just country bumpkins then.”

“Now I understand.”

“No more questions.”

Constable Sun organized the information. The doubts that had plagued him for days were resolved.

It wasn’t his understanding of the world that was flawed.

It was the Black Mountain Stronghold group whose perception had always been wrong.

No wonder they foolishly attacked Wangyou County.

Unaware of Lu Yuan’s name, how could they comprehend his terror?

…

At noon, under the blazing sun, everyone was drenched in sweat. Master Liu inside the prison wagon was nearly dozing off.

Lu Yuan glanced back at the others.

“It’s too hot. Let’s find a place up ahead to rest.”

“Wait until it cools down a bit before moving on.”

“You must be hungry too. Let’s find somewhere to eat.”

…