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Campione! - Volume 18 - Chapter 9.5




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Part 5 

Luo Cuilian was extremely removed from the mundane world.  

She neither lived in mundane villages and towns nor interacted with other people.  

Furthermore, despite being a mortal, she was also a godslayer who had reached the pinnacle of martial and Daoist arts—Her power could be described as mountain-moving and earth-shaking.  

Rather than human, it would be more apt to describe her as something like a sword deity or a celestial maiden.  

That being said.  

She was not born that way.  

Her withdrawal from mundane society happened after she became the "Ruler of the Martial Realm."  

Back when she was the leader of the Flying Phoenix School, she had built a training hall on the renowned mountain of Huangshan as the headquarters for the organization. However, she devoted herself to single-minded training and left the job of instructing disciples to others despite her position as leader...  

She would occasionally descend the mountain to travel around as a chivalrous adventurer.  

Moreover, Luo Cuilian was born in family of martial artists who worked in the business of providing security escorts for travelers and merchants. The prestigious Luo family was renowned in martial arts circles.  

Born in such a family, Luo Cuilian grew up under the care of her parents and elder brothers.  

(As a side note, it was said that the Luo family started out as traders.)  

In the past, Luo Cuilian had frequent opportunities to interact with people. She was not someone purely removed from the mundane world.  

If one were to ask Luo Cuilian's one and only direct disciple, he wold probably say the following:  

'Although Master could manage to fit in with society if she really wanted to, she's a willful woman who hates being surrounded by what she dislikes, which is why she lives secluded in the comfortable depths of a mountain forest.'  

Also, he would add the following:  

'However, she does have the self-awareness to know that she would blow everything away, whether people or towns regardless, simply because they offend her sight. Perhaps out of consideration for others, Master chooses to restrain herself by living out in the mountains. Nevertheless, with Master being who she is, even if she were being considerate, it would merely be just a tiny bit, seriously.'  

This sort of self-awareness and disdain for civilized society of hers actually developed gradually through an incubation period.  

During the period from the mid-nineteenth century to the earlier half of the twentieth century, her renown was widely circulated among those in Europe involved in the world of magic.  

Namely as the "Mystic of the Orient, Cult Master Luo Hao" or the "Kungfu Cult Master."  

That was when Luo Cuilian would visit the human world every seven or eight years, putting her mighty arm strength to use somewhere in the world should there be important objectives to achieve.  

In addition, she had actually sojourned briefly in London too.  

 

"The poverty of the masses is an unchanging sight no matter what country."  

Luo Cuilian remarked quietly.  

She was currently alone, walking along a small alley in a great metropolis tainted by smoke emission and immorality.  

This was on the edge of the county known as the City of London.  

A place completely removed from metropolitan civilization. The filthy streets were like a maze. Various rubbish and the vomit of drunkards were all over the place. Flies buzzed and gathered around rotting vegetables and decaying fruit.  

Of course, the sour stench was exceptionally revolting.  

It stemmed from sources including the foul odor of kitchen waste and alcohol or the sweat and body odors of pedestrians.  

The sun had set roughly two hours prior, bringing night. The fuzzy light of gas lamps were unable to reach the alleys nearby.  

Instead, bright lamps shone out from inside disreputable establishments. Pubs, gambling houses, brothels, opium dens, etc—These businesses only came alive after dark.  

Naturally, the pedestrians were nothing respectable either.  

Vulgar men who would drown their bodies' fatigue in alcohol after a day's hard manual labor.  

Upper-class gentlemen visiting houses of ill repute in search of pleasure. Women dressed up flamboyantly. Merchants making under-the-table deals. Young girls selling flowers and matches for meager change. Vagrants relying on the charity of crude and filthy food from soup kitchens...  

Every now and then, she would see opium addicts with glazed eyes.  

Walking in a daze with aimless footsteps, they bore hollow and listless expressions.  

Not only the people of the Qing Empire but also many Englishmen were hopelessly dependent on this addictive drug, putting their minds in a stupor, wrecking their own bodies and souls by their own hand.  

"......"  

She felt neither disdain nor sorrow.  

Luo Cuilian simply viewed these addicts indifferently.  

In fact, she had infiltrated several opium dens to catch a glimpse of the pitiful conditions within.  

There were a number of customers casually reclining on rows of beds, smoking feebly from opium pipes. Many of them were down to skin and bones.  

She could also see people exhibiting blue spots on their skin from opium poisoning.  

There were people grumbling at nonexistent targets. Even people who trembled in solitude, staring at phantoms that no one else could see...  

Moreover, there was opium smoke hanging throughout the air. This alone was enough to put an ordinary person's body at risk.  

Naturally, having trained her internal circulation and breathing control to the realm of perfection, Luo Cuilian was completely unfazed. Quietly, she left the opium den—  

"If the result of a country's wealth and prosperity is the endless creation of such depraved people... Then what meaning is there in civilization's progress?"  

Luo Cuilian whispered in lamentation as a celestial maiden who lived as one with nature.  

As a side note, she was currently in an alley in London Bridge's vicinity.  

This was the east bank of the River Thames. The opposite, western bank was the center of metropolitan London and where the junction of Charing Cross was located.  

This was indeed the heart of the British Empire.  

The Admiralty, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace were all in the area.  

Luo Cuilian was a Daoist priestess with full control over Daoist arts. Using her clairvoyance, she could easily capture all ironic absurdities of the British Empire within her view.  

Coldly observing the depravity of civilization, she continued to walk.  

Tonight, she had changed out of her usual Han clothing to wear a long blue robe.  

It was an upper garment resembling a one-piece dress with the hem reaching down to her ankles. With slits reaching up to the sides of her waist, it facilitated movement greatly.  

Normally speaking, onlookers would inevitably cast strange gazes at this "peculiarly dressed Chinawoman."  

That would be unacceptable. Hence, she had used a Daoist spell of stealth.  

This technique's effect was akin to camouflage, allowing one's appearance to meld into the surrounding scenery. By using this Daoist spell, the peerless Luo Cuilian would remain undiscovered even by people right next to her.  

"I should hurry and fulfill the King of the Iron Wheel's wish."  

Such a decadent city did not suit the Ruler of the Martial Realm.  

I should return to the Qing Empire as soon as possible, Luo Cuilian decided. The dialogue with the leader of the Western Region's martial realm on the Tibetan plateau had taken place half a month earlier.  

After that, she had used Daoist arts to fly instantly to Britain.  

The divine artifact stolen by the British was a three-pronged vajra related to Vajrabhairava. Her objective was to retrieve this artifact.  

The three-pronged vajra's wielder obtained the ability to use lightning—a prided authority common to sword gods of steel.  

Even powerful martial artists or monks wielding Buddhist magic were unable to oppose a holder of that divine artifact. Consequently, the King of the Iron Wheel had asked a godslayer, Luo Cuilian, for a favor.  

That being said, this London was a foreign land.  

Unfamiliar with the environment, the Kungfu Cult Master left the task of searching to "subordinates" and was waiting for them to report back. During these few days, she had gone strolling alone in the city, observing the lives of the populace...  

"Hmm."  

Walking at night, Luo Cuilian came across a displeasing scene. She frowned.  

Dressed in a gray coat, an olive-skinned girl, ostensibly Indian—wandering these kinds of streets yet inexplicably, did not look out of place—was currently being harassed by four drunkards.  

Those were probably laborers who worked at shipyards on the River Thames.  

Englishmen. However, their faces and physiques were different from that of the upper class.  

Not especially tall but quite muscular in contrast, they were of rugged build. Despite living in the same city and belonging to the same ethnicity, the upper, middle and working class differed in appearance.  

"U-Umm, excuse me. I'm only here because I got just a bit lost. May I pass?"  The girl spoke bravely to the drunkards accosting her.  

However, the four drunkards ignored her. They wanted to force the girl into a nearby pub. They were probably driven by lust because she was quite a lovely girl.  

The drunkards had blocked off the girl on all four directions.  "It'll be dawn if I don't hurry back to the mansion where I work..."  

The girl's pitiful pleas fell on deaf ears.  

Moreover, there were many races living in London. Indians, Chinese, Malays and African blacks could frequently be seen. This girl probably belonged to one of these races.  

Although she could simply ignore the scene, chance encounters could be considered a type of destiny. Luo Cuilian shrugged.  

Furthermore, she had frequently taught her cult subordinates to "engage in chivalry, sacrifice themselves for great justice to become heroes and saviors."  


An occasional display of chivalry would not be a bad idea. Luo Cuilian exhaled.  

This breath immediately turned into magical wind carrying a shockwave, striking one of the four drunkards on the back of his head.  

The pitiful victim fell unconscious and collapsed on the ground just like that.  

" " "!?" " "  

With shocked faces, the remaining three drunkards looked around in alarm.  

However, they could not discover Luo Cuilian's presence. This was only natural. How could such lowly scum possibly possess the eyesight to see through a Daoist spell of concealment?  

Luo Cuilian then exhaled thrice. Things would be over with this.  

The shockwaves struck the three drunkards on the backs of their heads in succession, rendering them unconscious. The harassed olive-skinned girl stared wide-eyed in surprise.  

Smiling tenderly, the Kungfu Cult Master was just about to leave when...  

"Umm, excuse me!"  

However, someone called to her.  

Luo Cuilian felt surprised for the first time since arriving in England. The Indianlooking girl with the underdeveloped sense of danger awareness was looking straight at her without getting mystified by the concealment spell. Evidently, the girl was cognizant of Luo Cuilian's presence.  

Furthermore, she even smiled while she spoke:  

"Please allow me to express my utmost thanks. How about we find a place to chat and have some tea?"  

 

"What happened at the mansion?"  

Viscount Gerard asked as soon as he met Marquis Voban.  

"I can't believe that beautiful greenhouse was burnt down completely. It's not like a kitchen where fires could start accidentally."  

"I agree completely. Normally speaking, it is not a place where a fire could originate."  

Suppressing his displeasure, Voban nodded indifferently.  

It was after greeting his friend in the library of the luxurious mansion in Hampstead Heath.  

...The especially large main wing of the house was located in the center of the mansion. To its east was the library block while the greenhouse lay to the west. An interconnected design.  

Yesterday, the greenhouse on the west had suddenly caught fire.  

Many of the wealthy who built vast residences in the countryside would cultivate a hobby of growing plants.  

There were even people who preferred to plow and plant the land themselves instead of leaving it to a gardener. Greenhouses existed for this purpose.  

"This your—Dejanstahl Voban's—residence. It's hard to imagine anyone committing arson here. I could never do something so terrifying no matter what."  

"......"  

"Or perhaps, Dejan, did you set fire to the place on a moment's impulse as the master of the house?"  

"Imagine whatever you like, but no answer shall come from these lips of mine."  

Viscount Gerard's expression relaxed in response to his cold answer.  

He apparently jumped to the conclusion that his speculation was right. Since there was no need to correct him, Voban avoided further discussion of the topic.  

Morever, he already knew the perpetrator's identity, namely, the new Indian maid.  

Yesterday, when the girl named Aisha was maintaining the greenhouse, it had suddenly caught fire for some reason.  

'I am terribly sorry. I made a slight mistake!'  

That was how she reported it when she came to Voban to apologize.  

What kind of mistake could start a blaze in a place where there were no sources of fire to begin with? Since it was too ridiculous, Voban did not even have the mood to pursue the matter, simply frowning with severe displeasure.  

Half a month had gone by since meeting Aisha.  

Earlier when he had inquired of the girl's origins, the butler had replied that nothing was known apart from what she said about "working as a maid all along." It was a mystery whether she was an educated mage or not.  

However, her claim that she could start working immediately was apparently not entirely wrong.  

Despite her slight clumsiness, she learned things quickly and was quite enthusiastic in her work, that was what the butler reported. Nevertheless, every four days, "something" would happen.  

Erroneously putting a spoonful of jam into a stewed dish when helping out in the kitchen. Slipping and falling when carrying a bucket of water. While falling, aforementioned bucket of water flying off into the distance, drenching a visiting guest completely.  

Breaking a pot worth two hundred British pounds when chasing a mouse. As a side note, that figure was more than ten times a maid's average annual income.  

In addition, there was burning down the greenhouse yesterday...  

However, even with the way she was, after committing such acts, Aisha would always come over to Voban with a depressed look.  

"I-I am so terribly sorry..."  

Apologizing so meekly, she clearly expected the worst outcome.  

Namely, unemployment. Will the "master" dismiss her from her post? Wondering in trepidation, she looked up at Voban's livid face.  

Her frightened demeanor was virtually like that of a small animal in front of a hunger wolf.  

"Umm... From now on, w-what should I do...?"  

It was definitely not out of pity that Voban refrained from firing Aisha.  

If anything, it was curiosity and defiant obstinacy.  

Voban had kept her in his service knowing clearly she could cause trouble.  

His preferences could probably be considered the reason why he would consider the notion that she might be quite amusing. He would not get maximum fun out of things unless he put in a bit of effort. Something on the level of a damaged house did not constitute sufficient reason to terminate her employment. No, that must not be done.  

Moreover, an incompetent servant was supposed to be fired immediately.  

Of course, there were reasons why he had not done something so natural and logical.  

'Insignificant human beings could not oppose the gods.'  

He had successfully slain a god in the first place precisely because he resisted such common sense with all his might.  

Without such an obstinate and oppositional mindset, there would be no Marquis Voban today. Hence, he simply sneered "hmph" and forgave Aisha rather simply.  

That being said, even though the master of house was fine with it, the same did not go for the butler.  

Plagued by stomach cramps because of the clumsy maid's incessant blunders, his worried demeanor deepened day by day.  

Fortunately, it was Aisha's day off today. Since she had already gone out to town to enjoy herself, the butler was freed from worrying—  "So, what business with me brings you here today, Gerard?"  

"Because there is information I would like to tell you. I also heard a certain rumor."  

"Hoh."  

Putting the various house-related matters out of his mind, Voban was currently staring as a Devil King at his guest.  

"How rare. To think you would pay a visit to my residence for a matter of this sort."  

"Because quite a rare visitor has arrived in London."  

"Now that is an intriguing manner of description."  

"Dejan, you should know, right? We are not the only ones involved in the magic path, hidden in this city. There are also the suspicious beast tamers from the Malay Peninsula, the black magi from the Indian subcontinent, as well as Chinese masters adept in Daoist arts..."  

"All superficial differences, ultimately. There is hardly any variance in the fundamentals."  

"Ah, that is truly something you would say. However, what would you think if I were to say that the most powerful Dao Master from the Chinese mainland has arrived? There are many rumors about him. Some say he is the ultimate martial artist and has even slain gods to usurp their authorities—"  

"From China?"  

Voban muttered. Actually, he already had an idea.  

Seven years prior, while wandering Asia from the west to the southeast, he had heard this person's name many times.  

Of those involved in magic and wizardry over there, even if they failed to recognize the name of Dejanstahl Voban, there was no one who did not know of this person's renown.  

"I have heard things myself. There is a tyrant similar to me in the south of a certain country."  

Voban recalled the name he had heard many times during his travels.  

"I recall a name called something like Luo Hao."  

"I'm glad you know it already."  

This was apparently the name alright. Viscount Gerard instantly nodded.  

"Actually, Master Luo Hao only made the long journey to England at the request of a Tibetan ally. His goal is to retrieve the stolen divine treasure, the threepronged vajra."  

"Another familiar name."  

"The Chinese in London have received his orders and are desperately trying to locate the mystical treasure's whereabouts. Then they managed to find it. Namely, the fact that after a convoluted series of events, it has fallen into the hands of 

Marquis Voban, the Devil King of eastern Europe."  

Viscount Gerard laughed in delight with an expression of an excited spectator.  

"Master Luo Hao contacted me... Namely, one of the Marquis' few friends and simultaneously an Englishman, asking me to pass this message to you. Please choose a venue for negotiations within the next few days."  



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