645 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

A sinister shadow of a black crane stretched across the skies over Nanjing. "Ma'am! The warehouse has been raided!" "What?! Were the guards asleep last night? How did a thief get in?!" "It's mind-boggling, to say the least." "Ma'am! We found this strange object in the warehouse!" In the dark of night. The visitor disappeared without leaving a trace, except for a swatch of black shadow as evidence of their presence. "A crane made of black paper? Wait a minute! Could this possibly be...?!" "The Phantom Thief?!" "Come to think of it, there was a bizarre notice yesterday claiming that your house would be robbed." "Why didn't you mention this before?!" "Who's crazy enough to announce their intention to burglarize?" "You make a point, but still... truly..." "The Phantom Thief has appeared in Nanjing!" In just one night, the wailing sounds echoed through countless rich households. The master of the Black Celestial Crane. It was the Phantom Thief, the emergence of the Shadowless Phantom. —— "More have gathered than I expected." With a grand appearance in Nanjing, Lim Ha Yeon convened the deputies of the Nanjing branch of Hao Clan. "Who would ignore such a summons?" Already, Lim Ha Yeon was revered as the pinnacle of the Hubei Province Hao Clan. The position of head in the Nanjing branch was vacant, and she was the prospective disciple of the Hao Clan leader. No one in Nanjing dared to treat Lim Ha Yeon lightly. Although not everyone gathered solely due to this reason. ‘The Shadowless Phantom has resumed activities in Nanjing.’ The deputies gazed at Lim Ha Yeon with a sparkle in their eyes. The predecessor of the Shadowless Phantom was a great thief who resounded across the martial world, and his daughter surpassed him to become the head of Hao Clan. Father and daughter were writing legends side by side, and there were no small number of people eager to lend a hand. "Truly, your reputation as the Shadowless Phantom precedes you! Though you held back during your travels, you were itching for action!" "Is there not a single wealthy fool in Nanjing? They all looked like purses ripe for your taking!" "Come now! The head isn’t just any opportunist! She resumed activities to establish her authority before meeting the Hao Clan leader, right? Isn’t that correct?" "Let's just say that's close enough." Lim Ha Yeon couldn't quite bring herself to admit that the reason for her recent activities was because she heard a slander against her beloved man. "You really visited all those estates in just one night?" Even targeting a single estate would cause an uproar, yet she had plundered more than she could count on her fingers in a single night. Amazement made the questioning deputy's voice tremble. "They coveted others' belongings without managing their own pockets." She couldn't say she acted out of impulse, so she simply shrugged her shoulders. Naturally, her casual demeanor about such an extraordinary feat only further excited the Hao Clan deputies. "As expected! You truly inherit the name!" "I'm ready to retire and become an old sage at this rate." Her father subtly boasted about his daughter, joining in. "Don’t pretend this is the end! You still need to lend a hand!" "True, there’s still so much to learn." "Haha... Thank you, Head." To think his daughter would support him this way. Yet in public, it was improper to call out the head's name so freely. Wang Jong Ho clutched his emotional heart, bowing slightly to his daughter in acknowledgment. "Have you prepared what I requested?" Once the commotion quieted down a bit, Lim Ha Yeon immediately addressed the reason for their assembly. "Here are the blueprints of the estates you mentioned." "This includes the guards' patrol routes and shift schedules, along with summaries of their martial arts level." Starting with a comprehensive map of Nanjing, down to countless wealthy estates' layouts. If she was going to start, she was going to do it boldly. Taking full advantage of the comprehensive support from the Nanjing branch of Hao Clan, Lim Ha Yeon planned to act. "This is a list of households owning what are deemed treasures of Nanjing. Beware, these items have never been stolen by any thief known." "Erase the top three." "Pardon...?" "I brought them back last night." Lim Ha Yeon drew a wooden branch from her lapel, tossing it to a deputy. Although it was just a casually thrown branch, the realization of what it was astounded them, leaving them wide-eyed. "No way! Is that really a branch of Yggdrasil?!" It was indeed at the top of the Nanjing treasure list. "What?! Is that the treasure said to be from the West?!" "Regardless of authenticity, it was a family heirloom of the Ung family, never shown to the world!" "How did you acquire something so well-guarded by martial artists daily?" "Just because your eyes are open doesn't mean they can see the darkness, right?" "The Shadowless Phantom..." No wonder she rose to the position of Hao Clan's leader. The confident demeanor of Lim Ha Yeon instilled not only excitement but reverence in the eyes of the deputies watching her. "Ahem..." "How on earth did you raise your daughter, sir?" "Is that an insult or a compliment?" "Naturally, it's a compliment!" "I'll need the continued support of the Nanjing branch." Lim Ha Yeon responded to the gazes directed at her. The legend of the Shadowless Phantom wasn't built alone. It was a legacy crafted alongside her beloved partner and friends. Being apart from them, she needed the help of others, even if imperfectly. "Is there even a question? Head. But will you be alright with this?" "With what exactly?" "If the Shadowless Phantom is active, the martial artists in Nanjing won’t remain idle." "Correct. The stories of the Phantom have subtly floated along the Yangtze River. To suddenly re-emerge in Nanjing! Martial artists thirsty for fame will eagerly leap forward." The Hao Clan members looked at the head with concern. No matter how remarkable the Shadowless Phantom, martial artists live and die by their name, never missing such a rare opportunity. However. "I can’t just stay still hearing someone badmouthing my man." It was the same for the Shadowless Phantom, moving for the sake of a beloved name. "What do you mean?" There was a man who had saved her from a cage she thought she'd never escape. Named by the world as a notorious thief of the ages, transformed by one man's intervention into a righteous outlaw. A woman who reached unparalleled heights through her martial arts prowess. "Let them try to chase me with all their might. My shadow is something none shall touch." The Shadowless Phantom. Her resolve, driven by the name of the man she loved, was unmatched by anyone. —— "Damn it! We've been robbed by the Shadowless Phantom again!" "Call the constables! Quickly!" "We had martial artists guarding the place, and yet we were robbed?" "Well done, ma'am!" The wealthy of Nanjing found themselves helpless against the Shadowless Phantom. "Exchange the jewels we acquired for grain and cloth and distribute them to the poor villages. And make sure the Nanjing branch takes a fair fee for their service." The activities of the Shadowless Phantom didn't end with mere thievery. "Of course." "Is there a Korean association here in Nanjing by any chance?" "A Korean association here?" "It seems unlikely, given the transient nature of this place." Lim Ha Yeon nodded wistfully at the puzzled looks. Associations typically form when a significant number of settlers gather to support each other. Although Zhejiang Province was well-connected to Joseon through its ports and had a large transient population along the Yangtze River, most Koreans were just passing through. "Those ignorant barbarians gather and disperse as they please. If it's a few people you need..." "..." Lim Ha Yeon's gaze narrowed instantly. Her perception of hospitality was not as the head of the Hubei Province Hao Clan, but rather as someone deeply connected to the Korean community. "Ma'am?" "Even among those living at the bottom, there's no need to look down on anyone." "Oh... I'm sorry. Was it Koreans that you needed?" "Find a responsible Korean to distribute grain and cloth to those struggling. It's a harsh winter, and even if it's not a quilt, people should at least have blankets to keep warm, right?" "Yes, absolutely." "And have them report any necessary medicines for those who are sick." "I'll look into it right away." Though the face of the Korean association was Kang Yun Ho, it was Lim Ha Yeon who looked after the people on behalf of her busy partner. Thus, holding the position of leader was becoming less awkward for her. Given the struggles they endured together, she naturally felt a deeper sense of care. "Thank you. I have another request." "Please, anything you ask." She was the infamous Phantom Thief, writing her legend in just ten days in Nanjing. Not wanting to risk upsetting the leader’s mood further, the deputy was ready to listen diligently. "Please spread the rumor that the Shadowless Phantom fled to Nanjing to escape the 'Black-Headed Constable' Kang Yun Ho." "What? How could we say such a thing?" How could one even consider telling a tale that might tarnish the name of the Shadowless Phantom? "Spread word that the only one who can catch the Shadowless Phantom is the 'Black-Headed Constable' Kang Yun Ho." Please. The deputy couldn't help but nod at the leader's strangely embarrassed yet earnest request. ——— "Could the leader perhaps have feelings for Kang Yun Ho..." "Hey! You can't say things like that! They’re acknowledged as rivals!" "Is that so?" "Let's get on with spreading the rumor as ordered!" Was the Shadowless Phantom secretly in love? Did she flee to Nanjing to escape the feverish affection? Or perhaps they’re rivals because his charisma overwhelmed her? While speculation ran rampant among the unaware deputies of the Hao Clan, the rumor spread diligently. "The Shadowless Phantom has appeared!" "They visited us overnight! Now we have no worries this winter!" In the metropolis of Nanjing, a major city along the grand Yangtze River—a city ranked among the top five in the central plains—the rich were robbed, and the impoverished were helped by a thief, much to the people's delight. "I hear not even the martial artists can find the Phantom Thief's trail." "At this rate, we might need to bring in the 'Black-Headed Constable' from Wuhan." As the name of her only rival began circulating... "Heh, know your place." The leader of Hao Clan, the Shadowless Phantom Lim Ha Yeon, had accomplished exactly what she intended.