Chapter 141: Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts (7)

As she sighed, the booklet was closed with a snap.

Yo-ran was fearful of what response would come next.

‘I’d be happy with even a word of praise.’

Did her expectations reach the other’s heart?

What came was a warm voice.

“Branch Leader.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“I understand your hard work.”

Why did it feel like her previously cold heart melted with just those words?

“But Branch Leader, it seems you don’t know me well.”

“There are parts I don’t know, but…”

She knew he was strong.

If asked to name the most secretive and dangerous person in the world, she would undoubtedly point to the man before her.

“No, you don’t know me.”

“I…”

“If you did, you would understand my consideration.”

She was at a loss for words.

‘Consideration? Where?’

Wasn’t he the one who came and went as he pleased?

Understanding her small grumble, Cho Un-hwi smiled.

“Sometimes, when my mind is cluttered, I like to take a walk.”

“At this hour?”

“Shall we walk?”

“I’ll think about it.”

She instinctively responded haughtily.

What came back was a soft laugh.

“I would like to enjoy a walk under the bright moonlight with you. Will you spare the time?”

The Shadow Sovereign courteously asked, extending his hand.

“Yes, gladly.”

Blushing slightly, Yo-ran offered her hand.

The night walk began.

***

As the Shadow Sovereign was about to leave the inn, he made an unexpected comment.

“It will rain.”

“Rain?”

Yo-ran, looking up at the bright moonlight through the collapsed, old roof, tilted her head.

“There’s not a cloud in the sky.”

“It will definitely rain.”

Sudden rain on a clear moonlit night?

“Branch Leader, please prepare an umbrella.”

It was puzzling, but he seemed so confident that she had no words to argue.

‘He’s such a mysterious person, maybe he can read the weather too.’

She thought lightly and smiled.

“Yes, I’ll make sure to bring one.”

***

The midnight walk was quite simple.

There were no golden carriages or grand processions.

It was just an ordinary walk.

If there was anything unusual, it was walking under a clear moonlit sky with an umbrella.

Through the arm she held, she could feel his firm build and the warmth within.

*Rustle. Rustle.*

As they walked carefully, a voice came from beside her.

“It seems this is the first time we’ve taken a walk together.”

Yo-ran’s gaze followed the hand holding the red umbrella.

Up his firm forearm, past his neatly dressed martial clothes, and to his shadowed face.

For some reason, the more she looked, the more his image seemed to blur in her mind.

As her thoughts drifted, the voice came again.

“Branch Leader, have you heard of the Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts?”

She nodded.

“I’ve heard of it. It’s a story even children know.”

The Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts.

A strange tale where ghosts and spirits march through the village at night, coming through the gate of ghosts.

Leaning on his arm, she whispered.

“When I was young, I was so scared I couldn’t sleep alone.”

“Were you?”

“Even the sound of a vendor selling rice cakes at night or the footsteps of a tofu seller at dawn would make me tremble in fear.”

Isn’t that funny?

“Haha, you were quite a cute child.”

Recalling her memories, Yo-ran laughed too.

“I never thought I’d become the head of the Hao Clan back then.”

“Who knows what the future holds?”

“Even you don’t know?”

“No. How could I?”

Hearing the laugh of a man who could one day rule the world, Yo-ran covered her mouth and laughed.

“You don’t seem to believe me.”

“It’s not that I don’t believe you. It’s just fascinating.”

A faint smile formed under the shadows.

“Back to the earlier story.”

“Have you ever seen it?”

“Seen what?”

“The Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts.”

“I’ve never seen a ghost in my life.”

Thinking he was trying to scare her, she shivered a little, and his voice carried a hint of laughter.

“I’m not trying to scare you.”

“This isn’t the best topic for a walk in the middle of the night.”

“True.”

As they walked along the path, Yo-ran suddenly saw a brightening path ahead.

Oddly, they had been walking along the riverbank of Suzhou just a moment ago.

‘A bamboo forest?’

Thinking she might be bewitched, she widened her eyes, and the voice came again.

“Should I say we’re lucky or unlucky?”

“Maybe tonight, you’ll see it for the first time.”

“What do you mean?”

The Shadow Sovereign replied.

“The Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts.”

What on earth was he talking about?

***

Leaving the bamboo forest, Yo-ran realized he wasn’t lying.

‘When did this happen?’

A strangely deserted path.

Not a sound, not even a falling pin, and she thought only the two of them were there.

But that was a misconception.

‘Is that a person on the tree?’

People dressed in black, some in red martial clothes, some with masks covering their faces.

They were undoubtedly people, but they stood on the thin bamboo leaves, swaying with the wind.

Chills ran down her spine at the surreal sight.

‘Desert Assassins.’

They existed but left no trace, and even while looking, it was hard to tell if it was real.

She could tell they were highly trained assassins.

Realizing this, her fingertips trembled.

“They say ghosts and spirits are seen but cannot be touched or caught.”

They exist but don’t exist.

Swaying on the bamboo leaves, they were just like that.

“My lord, everything is ready.”

The old man with the smiling face was suddenly beside them.

His face, as if hastily scribbled, was hard to remember.

“Haha, it’s been a while since we’ve had a night walk.”

Danya, shaking his bandages menacingly, spoke with a mix of joy.

Yo-ran couldn’t miss the implication.

“Surely, Your Excellency…”

“Tonight, the moon is bright. It’s a good time for the gate of ghosts to open.”

The Shadow Sovereign murmured playfully.

“If we’re lucky, we might see the Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts.”

Was that the signal?

The assassins, relying on the bamboo leaves, silently soared.

With feather-light steps, they cast shadows under the moonlight, heading towards…

‘The Suzhou branch of the Heavenly Destruction Society.’

Where those supporting the Jangcheon Sect were.

*Whoosh.*

the cold wind from the manor carried a faint scent of blood, was it just an illusion?

***

*Swish swish swish swish.*

There were only about ten of them.

The assassins crossed the manor walls without hesitation.

The people in the manor, their mouths agape, rang the alarm.

But no sound emerged from the manor.

“–!”

“—. –!”

“…–…”

What followed were silent screams.

Under the moonlight, fountains of blood erupted, and pieces of flesh scattered.

The necks of the warriors guarding the gate flew high, and more heads and arms soared into the air.

*Thud thud thud.*

Walking straight from the gate to the main house, two people walked.

“I told you it would rain.”

*Thud thud thud.*

The sound of the unusually red rain was all that could be heard.

“Aaaah-.”

*Thud. Thud.*

The thick blood continuously pouring from the sky splattered against the umbrella.

Sometimes, a fountain of blood would burst right in front of them.

“Fools. Do you intend to dirty the lord?”

At Danya’s ghostly shout, a man in black night clothes swung his cloak, deflecting the blood.

Another wore a bamboo hat.

Some knelt in the puddles of blood.

They seemed more concerned about the bloody rain staining their night walk than the killing.

Even as they were cut and stabbed, they didn’t stop.

One even took a sword to the back while blocking the blood from splashing on his lords clothes.

“Well done.”

Even as he fell, spraying blood, the assassin’s eyes smiled.

“–!”

Two more silent deaths occurred.

In this brutal scene of slaughter, the sounds heard were…

*Thud.*

The continuous sound of blood rain hitting the umbrella.

“I used to enjoy walks a lot.”

I couldn’t sleep at night.

Only the voice telling old stories.

*Shiver.*

In this surreal reality, Yo-ran couldn’t help but tremble.

They had walked barely fifty steps into this place.

In that time, more than twice as many deaths had occurred.

‘I’m scared. Why is this happening?’

Now she understood why he had mentioned the Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts.

He wanted to warn of those touched by ghosts.

She also understood why he told her to bring an umbrella.

He had planned to erase this place when he mentioned the walk.

‘The Heavenly Destruction Society’s branch, so easily…’

The Heavenly Destruction Society was not a rival.

Just prey.

‘Maybe it’s just a summer night’s entertainment.’

From her perspective, it was a terrifying realization that left her drained and frightened.

*Shiver.*

As she trembled again, a seemingly concerned voice spoke.

“The night is getting cold. It’s not good for you, Branch Leader.”

“I’m…”

“Shall we head back?”

*Swish.*

Waving his hand.

The bandages moved, skewering three people and lifting them into the air.

*Slash slash slash!*

The old man swung his sword, killing people more easily than flipping his hand.

More and faster deaths occurred.

*Splash. Splash.*

The faster footsteps were followed by quicker and easier deaths.

They stopped at the end of the main house, in front of the master’s office.

Yo-ran’s gaze wavered.

‘The owner of this place is…’

A person called by the Eight Heavenly Apostles.

A terrifying person’s residence already had five bodies with their heads buried in blood puddles.

“It’s time to go back.”

Waving his hand, the door creaked open.

Inside, a man with pitch-black pupils was shouting.

“Who dares…?”

The black demonic energy was visibly flowing out.

“Blocking sound with energy?”

These monstrous beings!

The demonic practitioner, trembling in his monstrous form, was cut off.

“Shh. The neighbors don’t like noise at night.”

“Who’s this madman?”

That was the end.

*Swish! Thud!*

His figure shook, and the bandages and sword light mixed chaotically.

It didn’t take more than five breaths.

“Ugh. Gurgle.”

The master found by the Hao Clan through many sacrifices died.

*Thud.*

He fell over the table, then staggered and slid down the steps.

The last emotion in the eyes of the corpse lying at their feet was fear.

Reaching out from under the umbrella, the Shadow Sovereign spoke.

“It seems the rain has stopped.”

It was time to go back.

***

On the way back from the walk.

“How was the walk?”

Yo-ran couldn’t speak.

After a while, she found her voice deep within her chest.

“I…”

Sensing the fear in her, a gentle admonition came.

“Don’t admire the Hundred Ghosts too much.”

“……”

“The closer you get to ghosts, the more you become one.”

It’s better to keep some distance.

Hearing the heavy reply, Yo-ran gathered her courage and spoke.

“I…”

“I long for humans.”

“Your Excellency, I…”

But the master of the Hundred Ghosts didn’t allow further words.

“Stay human.”

“That’s best for you.”

“And for me.”

At his dismissal, Yo-ran closed her eyes tightly and asked.

“Will I see you again?”

“Did you forget?”

A soft laugh was heard.

“I bought a smile worth a million taels.”

It was a promise, wasn’t it?

Seeing the faint smile under the moonlight, Yo-ran cried and laughed.

“Yes.”

And she realized.

Perhaps, having been enchanted by the Hundred Ghosts tonight, she was destined to live her life waiting for the ghostly parade.

As dawn broke, pushing away the darkness, the time of humans approached.