Legend of The Young Master

Chapter 99: Demonic 10

In the beginning, there were rumors of a new Demonic Ten, with Qi adepts among them, who had replaced the old Demonic Ten. However, no one had enough proof to confirm this, as every caravan that was robbed left no survivors to tell the tale. It was certain that the Demonic Ten were responsible for these acts, as there would always be footprints of ten horses left at the scene of every incident.

Thus, it became clear that the Demonic Ten had grown very active.

Around six months after the Demonic Ten began their relentless robbing and pillaging, more information about them emerged. It was discovered that the Demonic Ten indeed had a new leader. This new iteration was led by a mysterious female whose identity, along with those of all its members, was concealed.

Previously, the Demonic Ten did not have any leaders, as they were considered equal partners, leading to the conclusion that the original Demonic Ten had indeed been replaced

How did the people get confirmation about the new Demonic Ten and their female leader? It occurred when the new Demonic Ten attacked a caravan protected by the Traders Vanguard. The ensuing battle, involving twelve warriors from the Traders Vanguard and the Demonic Ten, was so fierce that it altered the landscape of the battlefield.

On the suggestions of Merchant Zhu, another well-known merchant had hired the Traders Vanguard to protect his caravans since the Demonic Ten kept pillaging his every caravan.

On his return the merchant made sure to inform everyone about the New Demonic Ten. These ten had become a menace for every noble and trader. All nobles and powerful merchants were ready to pay the highest price to anyone who could provide more details or eliminate them, but eliminating them was far-fetched as no one had been able to escape them so far.

So, when the merchant arrived with the news, it made waves in both Huanghou and Kaliyuan.

This incident not only confirmed rumors about the new Demonic Ten but also revealed the true strength of the Traders Vanguard. This organization was not very well known before the incident, but now that they realized there was a warrior group in Huanghou that could face the Demonic Ten head-on and make them retreat, people started looking for more information about the Vanguard.

As they found the information, they realized the Vanguard currently possessed around fifteen Qi warriors. Furthermore, every caravan they guarded reached its destination unscathed and on time.

What intrigued the merchants and traders of Huanghou was the unique payment model of the Vanguard, charging a percentage of the profits only if the merchants made a satisfactory profit, contrasted starkly with the fixed fees demanded by normal Qi warriors.

This approach, coupled with their ruthless efficiency in dealing with threats, quickly elevated the Vanguard's reputation in the minds of every merchant.

It was not that the caravans under the Vanguard's protection did not face bandit attacks. But they never faced attacks from the same bandit groups twice because the groups that attacked caravans under the Vanguard's protection soon found themselves hunted down, their hideouts discovered and dismantled, and their members vanishing without a trace.

The only group that managed to survive an encounter with the Vanguard was the New Demonic Ten, who thereafter also steered clear of any caravans guarded by the Vanguard.

While the Vanguard's caravans traveled safely, others leaving Huanghou and Kaliyuan were mercilessly targeted by the Demonic Ten. This led more and more merchants to seek the protection of the Traders Vanguard. The members of the Traders Vanguard, always dressed in gray with their faces covered by masks and bodies cloaked, had started to become a symbol of security in Huanghou.

Rumors circulated about the leaders of the Traders Vanguard, a massive 7-foot-tall masked figure known as the Gray Giant. Tales of his prowess in battle, single-handedly defeating scores of bandits, spread far and wide reaching Kaliyuan too. His presence in a caravan was enough to deter any would-be attackers.

Within a year, the fame of the Traders Vanguard gained an honorable name in the region, while the Demonic Ten became the fear of every trader and noble clan in the area.

* * * * *

Another Two years passed, just like that. Seasons changed, from spring to summer, fall, and winter, and then back again, over and over. Trees lost their leaves and got them back again, and the moon went through its phases countless times.

Nestled on the eastern frontier of this sprawling empire lay the Tianqin kingdom. The capital of the Tianqin kingdom was called Leidian. To the extreme northeast of Leidian was Xiang stronghold town. Its prosperity stemmed from its position in the extreme east near the vast wilderness of the empire as a hub for beast materials trades.

Master Yinhua Han, the overseer of Xiang Town, reluctantly pulled his gaze away from the narrow, ornate window to focus on his duties.

A sense of envy gnawed at him. Envy from a youth barely a third of his age, leading an impressive group of Qi warriors, exploring the world while he remained confined to a town so secure it was monotonous.

"Cease this foolishness," he chided himself. "Exploring the world is captivating, but the reality is fraught with discomfort and peril. Haven't you experienced it?"

He sighed deeply. His hands, a constant reminder of his past, ached incessantly, whether he was awake or asleep. They remembered the harsh blows, the nights spent on hard ground, the biting cold, and the ill-fitting armor. He was at Qi initiate level eight, but he felt too old. When he was younger, he had wanted to explore the world and had suffered greatly.

He had fought many demonics in his life and worked very hard to reach where he was today.

Being the overseer of a town was an achievement in its own right; yet, he was jealous of the Noble Young Master who had so many Qi warriors as his subordinates. Unlike this Young Master, he was not noble-born with a golden spoon in his mouth. He had suffered all his life.

After participating in many battles against demonics and dedicating his life to the kingdom, he was stationed in this prosperous town. However, compared to the young master, his subordinates were nothing but a group of ragged warriors.