Manors were common in the large cities of Jianghu or in a place where you could see a superb view. Those who built their own manors were usually wealthy people, retired high-ranking officials, or successful merchants.
But among them, there were places that boasted a scale comparable to that of the great sects of Jianghu.
There were three representative manors.
These Three Manors1 represent Jianghu.
The New Moon Manor.2
The Spirit Sword Manor.3
The Rain Mountain Manor.4
These three manors possessed such power comparable to that of a fairly strong sect. Among them, the Rain Mountain Manor was the most well-known in Jianghu.
The Rain Mountain Manor was created by Jang Jushin. He was a swordsman who, after his retirement, had swordsmen follow him to gain great power in a short period of time.
Chengshan5, where the Rain Mountain Manor is located, was near Taihu Lake, and the scenery was so beautiful that poets and calligraphers continued to visit it all year round.
People who come to Chengshan for the first time are surprised by the size and beauty of the Rain Mountain Manor. Translated by soundlesswind21
The Rain Mountain Manor, which was built by inviting renowned artisans from all over the world, was no different than a work of art in itself.
Because of that, many artists in particular visited the Rain Mountain Manor, and Jang Pyeongsan, the sect leader of the Rain Mountain Manor, treated them with utmost care.
The entertainers who were treated well at the Rain Mountain Manor left poems, songs, and paintings praising Jang Pyeongsan as a natural born leader, making him even more famous.
Jang Pyeongsan was not just a strong swordsman. Thanks to his interaction with many artists, he was able to develop an excellent artistic eye, and he himself had excellent skills in painting.
In addition, his appearance was so outstanding that he could not be considered middle-aged. People around him praised him for being a perfect martial artist who’s proficient in both literary and martial arts.
Jang Pyeongsan sat in the pavilion of the back garden and looked at the rock garden.6
A large lake where you can float a boat and a well-kept high mountain were Jang Pyeongsan’s favorite scenery at the Rain Mountain Manor.
The rock garden, where all kinds of plants were collected and planted, boasted a unique beauty every time the season changed.
Whenever he would sit and look at the panoramic landscape of the rock garden, all of his worries seemed to disappear. Translated by soundlesswind21
Jang Pyeongsan looked alternately at the rock garden and the large piece of paper placed on top of the pavilion. Next to the paper was well-ground ink and a large brush.
But he could hardly hold the brush. He just looked at the rock garden.
How long did you wait?
As the sun slowly set over the horizon, the whole world began to be dyed in golden light.
A smile appeared on Jang Pyeongsan’s lips.
It was the moment he had been waiting for so long.
At that moment, a pair of mandarin ducks flew and played in the pond.
It was as if the Heavens were trying to help him. The view couldn’t have been better.
Swipe!
Jang Pyeongsan immediately picked up his brush and started painting.
Every time the large brush moved, a lively picture was completed on the paper.
Sarak! Sarak!
Just then, someone quietly approached Jang Pyeongsan from behind.
A look of annoyance flashed across Jang Pyeongsan’s face.
He hates it the most when someone interrupts him. In particular, when he was immersed in his painting like this, he hated being interrupted so much that even his subordinates did not dare to approach him.
Tak!
Jang Pyeongsan threw away his brush and turned around. Then he saw a beautiful middle-aged woman coming up to the pavilion.
A beautiful woman who is in her early 40s but has the same beauty od someone in her mid-to-late 20s.
She was Hwa Geum-seon, the second wife of Jang Pyeongsan.
Hwa Geum-seon’s pretty face was stained with tears.
The moment he saw her face, Jang Pyeongsan knew something was wrong.
“What’s going on, madame?”
“My family… My family is—”
Hwa Geum-seon could not finish her words and knelt down.
Jang Pyeongsan hurriedly hugged her and asked,
“What’s wrong? Did something happen to the Heavenly Silver Marketplace?”
“Huhu! the Heavenly Silver Marketplace was said to have suffered a catastrophe.”
“What?”
“Everyone is dead. My brother, Hwa Ok-gi… How am I supposed to live now? Heuuuugh!”
Hwa Geum-seon wailed loudly in the arms of Jang Pyeongsan.
Jang Pyeongsan looked at Hwa Geum-seon in his arms with a frown on his forehead.
She was not in the right condition to calmly explain what happened. She wept sadly as if the sky had collapsed, before passing out.
Jang Pyeongsan rose from his seat after carefully placed Hwa Geum-seon on the pavilion.
“Jeong-hak!”
“Yes, Lord Jang!”
A middle-aged man strode in from outside of the pavilion.
He was Yang Jeong-hak, the steward in charge of the small and large affairs of the Rain Mountain Manor.
“What’s going on? Explain.”
“I just received an urgent message from Enshi.”
“Urgent news?”
“Yes! The Heavenly Silver Marketplace was said to be devastated.”
“Tell me in detail.”
Jang Pyeongsan’s voice became deeply subdued.
“I don’t know the details, but it seems that both the Heavenly Silver Marketplace sect leader and young leader lost their lives.”
“Is it the Bamboo Sea clan?”
“It’s clear that the Bamboo Sea clan has benefited, but they don’t have the power to kill two people.”
“What if a third party intervenes?”
“I think it would be reasonable to think so for now.”
“What about our countermeasures?”
“I first put in a request to the Hao clan. It should be our priority to figure out the party behind it.”
Yang Jeong-hak calmly replied.
Hwa Geum-seon was lying passed out just around the corner, but he did not show any concern.
It was the same with Jang Pyeongsan.
“What about the sword Gongbu?”
He was more curious about the whereabouts of the famous sword, which he couldn’t get his hands on, than the condition of the Heavenly Silver Marketplace.
“It seems that the other party took it.”
“Tsk!”
For a moment, an annoyed expression appeared on Jang Pyeongsan’s face.
The downfall of the Heavenly Silver Marketplace did not deal him a great emotional blow.
It was only for Hwa Geum-seon. Now that her family has disappeared, she will feel the pain as if the sky has collapsed, but it has nothing to do with Jang Pyeongsan.
The only thing Jang Pyeongsan was interested in the world was a famous sword. Although he had already collected countless famous swords so far, his thirst still has not been quenched.
Gongbu was something he had long coveted.
Three great swords made by ancient artisans.
Only a few people remember those swords in the present, but Jang Pyeongsan still coveted those swords.
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