Chapter 135

Chapter 135
# Chapter 135: Guest Town Strategy

Passage Town went by another name—Guest Town.

The reasoning was straightforward: it was where great numbers of guest families had settled and made their homes. For context, these guest families were communities of refugees and wanderers who had lost their homelands during wars spanning the past several centuries, bound together by bloodline ties. Having spent generations adrift without a permanent home, they maintained fiercely tight bonds within their own kin groups, yet remained deeply wary, closed‑minded, and hostile toward outsiders. That was their defining hallmark.

“I see now why you believe we must secure Passage Town. Drawing the guest families into our fold would certainly fill critical gaps within our main house. Even so…”

This was not something the main house needed to rush into immediately. It was a task that would require attention in time, yet the order of priorities felt misaligned.

“Passage Town is overrun by assorted Black Path gangs—and every last one of those curs is backed by powerful Black Path factions operating out of Hunan.”

Using the Central Plains as a general reference point, the western stretches closer to Hunan fell firmly under Black Path influence, while the eastern side was dominated by White Path clans. Such was the balance of power across Jiangxi.

“We have just publicly proclaimed our unwavering commitment to righteous conduct. Why hand those Hunan‑backed Black Path gangs a perfect excuse to move against us? Things are poised to grow truly complicated.”

“Th‑that is true…”

“And that is not the whole of it. You have overlooked another vital point entirely. You propose the main house advance directly into Passage Town—but how exactly?”

“As a White Path martial clan… under the pretense of rooting out Black Path influence, to force our way in…” The young So scholar’s voice trailed off. He already understood his proposed approach would not hold up, for all the reasons just raised.

“The western martial world of Jiangxi is Black Path territory. If we push recklessly into Passage Town, we hand them clear justification to oppose us. So—what is the correct course of action?”

“The solution is simple: we enter through means that do not conform to standard martial world practice. Purchase the land outright, and establish our presence through fully legitimate, legal claim. That is our strongest possible move.”

The young So scholar’s expression brightened, yet he immediately countered. “Hmph—impossible. That would demand thousands of taels of gold at minimum, and the Baek Clan simply does not possess funds on that scale.”

“We do—or rather, we can secure what we need through borrowing. The principle remains: buy the land, set up our station openly, and we give Black Path no grievance to cite. Conversely, should they choose to provoke conflict, their aggression will become our justification to act.”

If they could truly raise the necessary funds, Yang‑hui’s strategy was undeniably the superior option. The young So scholar regarded Yang‑hui’s unflappable smile with evident frustration.

“I never knew you intended this—you never said a word! Had I been aware, I would have framed my proposal entirely differently!”

Yang‑hui’s reply was crisp and unyielding. “You did not ask.”

“What kind of answer is that?!”

“Let me reverse the question—why did you not inquire?”

“You presented it as a test! I developed my strategy faithfully based on the parameters provided!”

“Do you believe that sort of narrow thinking befits a strategist?”

The young So scholar pressed his lips together in silence. A true strategist was meant to see further than anyone else, and probe every layer of circumstance with thorough care. He knew this as well as anyone.

“If you truly aspired to be counted among those held in high regard, you would have sought out what you did not know. Pleading that you judged only by what was placed before you will not serve as an excuse.”

“Therefore: you missed what mattered, and your reasoning was flawed.”

The young So scholar fell completely silent. He knew further argument would serve no purpose—only make him appear lesser still. Yang‑hui watched him and felt satisfied.

“He is still somewhat unseasoned, make no mistake—but he is a gem nonetheless.” He was already proving useful, and his potential for growth was considerable. The young So scholar would undoubtedly become a tremendous asset to the Baek Clan.

Yang‑hui himself was no master strategist, after all. To realize far‑reaching ambitions, one required someone capable of mapping the broad vista—of shaping grand, long‑term designs. Until this moment, Yang‑hui had shouldered that responsibility himself.

Truth be told, it was not a role he was naturally suited for. He had been able to display sharp discernment by drawing upon memories and experience from a past life, yet in truth, his way of thinking fell short of what defined a genuine strategist. If one looked to *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* for comparison, he bore far closer resemblance to the versatile civil‑military genius Zhao Zilong than to Zhuge Liang. He was beginning to sense his own limits—and this arrival could not have been timelier.

“Father.”

“Speak your mind, Hui.”

“I wish to formally bring this young man into the main house as a full member. And I propose we settle how to address the White Righteousness Gate along these lines.”

Unlike the measured approach he had taken to bring Upright Moon Gate into their fold, Yang‑hui had initially intended to dismantle White Righteousness Gate entirely and scatter its members. It was simply too large; absorbing it whole could spawn damaging internal factions within the Baek Clan. Yet circumstances suggested a different path was now warranted.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Members of the Zhuge Clan were lodged temporarily in the quarters adjoining the Hundred White Tower. When Zhuge Hwa‑un saw his father Zhuge Seon step inside, he rose at once.

“You have returned.”

“Ah, Hwa‑un.”

Zhuge Seon felt a surge of pride at the sight of his son—who had grown into so distinguished a figure. Alongside that pride came recollection of the discussion he had just concluded with his sworn brother and the sworn brother’s adopted heir.

“We have reached a decision concerning the disposition of White Righteousness Gate.”

“In my view, eradicating them entirely would be just. What course have you settled upon, Father?”

White Righteousness Gate had dared bring harm to the Zhuge Clan’s most cherished jewel—and through collusion with Black Path forces, no less. Even meting out total destruction would scarcely be deemed excessive. Granted, it might outweigh the severity of their actual offense, but still…

“Had Seol‑ha sustained even the slightest injury… I would have drawn my blade and struck them down myself. How dare they set their designs upon our Seol‑ha!”

Zhuge Hwa‑un’s response was entirely in character—every bit the devoted son and brother his father was. Zhuge Seon nodded in full agreement.

“You speak rightly. Since no harm was ultimately done, we cannot put them all to the sword—but their gate plaque must come down, at the very least. That price they shall pay. Even so, we have resolved upon a different approach entirely.”

“I await your instruction.”

Rather than state the conclusion directly, Zhuge Seon turned first to another matter.

“That Yang‑hui remains unchanged in his ways.”

His father’s words stirred recollection—Zhuge Hwa‑un remembered meeting Yang‑hui years before.

“As quick‑witted as ever?”

“Precisely. His insight remains as keen as ever, not dulled in the slightest. He moves always with solid justification in hand, careful never to stir resentment unnecessarily. Truly impressive.”

This very affair was a striking example: Yang‑hui had clearly made use of the Zhuge Clan to advance Baek Clan interests. Had Seol‑ha not been involved, Zhuge Seon would never have become party to it. And yet—was Yang‑hui truly at fault? The answer was no.

“He brought word on Seol‑ha’s behalf, knowing she had kept her safe descent from the mountains from us. That alone merits gratitude.”

“Thanks to Brother Yang‑hui, Seol‑ha—who set forth to train alone per her Grandmother’s bidding—has been kept far safer than she might otherwise have been. That is a second cause for thanks.”

“It is true Seol‑ha faced peril from Black Path forces—but that was the doing of White Righteousness Gate, not his.”

“Brother Yang‑hui foresaw this risk, I have no doubt.”

“If we hold it against him that he acted despite foreseeing it, we must likewise condemn him for foreseeing that you and I would hasten to her side.”

That was what made it so remarkable: he had enlisted their support, yet left no ground for just reproach.

“The handling of White Righteousness Gate follows that same pattern—that young man has turned every consideration to his advantage yet again.”

“Now you have truly piqued my curiosity, Father. Please—explain your meaning.”

“In short: disperse them, and set them in competition with one another.”

True to his lineage, Zhuge Hwa‑un grasped the full design instantly.

“Break them apart and make them vie for standing. Had we ordered them disbanded, we would not have executed them—merely dissolved their structure—so it does not differ vastly in principle. Yet…”

“Exactly. Rather than shatter them completely, we split them along family lines and pit their interests against one another—and in doing so, turn them into far more valuable instruments.”

“It is efficient in conception, yet demands close oversight. That burden may erode those gains. Has he accounted for that?”

“He observed, ‘Why should we burden ourselves with supervision?’—for there is one suited to the task already among them.”

“Oh? Who?”

“A young man from the So family within White Righteousness Gate—uncommonly quick of mind. It appears Yang‑hui intends to elevate him.”

Zhuge Hwa‑un, fully briefed on White Righteousness Gate’s internal makeup, perceived the intent at once.

“Placing authority in the hands of a youth from the So Clan—the weakest among the senior families. With the ruling Gong family destined to fall, the others will fall into rivalry without a central hand to guide them. Ha—ingenious.”

“Precisely so.”

“Divide and govern, each faction kept in check by the others. Brother Yang‑hui’s gifts are nothing short of exceptional.”

The method itself was not complex—but it could never have been conceived had the young So scholar not appeared. What dazzled most was how Yang‑hui had revised his plans the very moment he learned of the boy and his promise.

“The Baek Clan shall grow apace under such guidance.”

“That is true—and I am glad my sworn brother’s house prospers. Yet I find myself growing wary as well.”

The Baek Clan was no longer the third‑rate household it had once been. With renown and influence spreading as they were, the time drew near when the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Clans would take notice. It would not be long before those proud powers heard whispers of “Heaven‑Covering Humble Clan” and looked closely. The Zhuge Clan alone…

“The Tang Clan, and the Baek Clan—one wonders how the balance of power will shift.”

“Shall we foresee the outcome and lend our strength to support it? Or judge matters as they stand and move to curb them? The main house must reach its decision soon.”

“You speak truly, Hwa‑un.”

A shared gravity settled between them.

“To introduce a new variable into the equation…”

“Support seems the wiser course, all things considered.”

“Suppression might afford us greater quiet—if peace is our sole aim.”

“Even so, with Brother Yang‑hui in the field… I believe support shall prove the better choice.”

“Ha—your reasoning serves well.”

“In any case, Father—let us observe a while longer before committing ourselves.”

“Agreed. Matters in Hubei are far from settled…”

Two powers counted among the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Clans held sway in Hubei: the Southern Branch of Wudang—founded barely a century past, yet grown so rapidly as to rival even Shaolin’s prestige—and the Zhuge Clan, whose influence had reigned over Yunzhong Mountain for generations.

“The Baek Clan and White Righteousness Gate affair affords our house much by which to gauge what lies ahead.”

“Indeed. We must ready ourselves for strife even among White Path factions.”

It might well come to bloodshed. Wudang’s ambitions had never been modest. Zhuge Seon smiled faintly.

“Enough weighty counsel for the moment. Tell me—where is Seol‑ha?”

“She was in that room just… hm?”

Zhuge Hwa‑un sent a quick pulse of awareness outward and found the space empty. His brow furrowed. “She was there when you arrived, Father—I am certain of it.”

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

After their discussion concluded, Yang‑hui climbed to his quarters and stretched.

“Whaaa—feels as though matters in Nanchang are all but wrapped up!”

Had Muju not fallen first, they would have stood poised to swallow Nanchang entirely. Without the riches of Sword King Mausoleum and the Zhuge Clan’s aid, it could never have been done at all. And the rewards for turning impossibility into achievement were immense. Securing firm hold over Nanchang alone would let their influence spread in what seemed the blink of an eye—for Nanchang was the capital of Jiangxi. In all truth, they had laid the very foundation from which to rise as Jiangxi’s foremost martial clan.

Still… there remained a long road ahead. For now, though, he might allow himself a moment’s repose.

“A‑du.”

A‑du, who had been peering from the window at the street below, turned toward him. Come to think of it—why was she radiating such intense qi? She seemed bathed in a faint, golden luminescence.

“What are you up to? Practicing?”

“Mm? Uh‑huh.”

Something about her tone felt off. He dismissed it—surely nothing mischievous.

“Mind you do not overexert yourself. I intend to circulate my qi and rest a while.”

“Uh‑huh…”

Yang‑hui settled cross‑legged upon his bed and prepared to begin his meditation—when—

“Waaaah!”

“Ugh—cough—hack—!”

He was jolted so sharply he nearly suffered a dangerous disruption of his internal energy.

“What in the world—Seol‑ha?”

“Senior Brother…” Zhuge Seol‑ha wore a sweet, bright smile—though a vein throbbed visibly at her temple. “…have we not certain scores still to settle?”

“Hahaha—well, you see…” Yang‑hui could only offer a sheepish, awkward laugh.