Little Demon Reversion to Youth

Chapter 117

Meixian Fang.

"Do you have any idea what the Namil Sect Master is up to?"

Zhaoling Sect Master Ha Wonjo asked.

After a preliminary skirmish, just as they were about to engage in a full-scale battle, the Namil Sect suddenly withdrew.

Then, an invitation arrived out of the blue.

Wu Tai answered Ha Wonjo's question.

"It is not the will of the Namil Sect Master. The one who signed his name is the one who wants us to come."

"You mean the Honored One of the Yang-Bai Merchant Sect?"

Wu Tai knew Baekji well.

Enough to have his name engraved on his bones.

"If he is the one who calls... we must go."

"Hmph? The Alliance Leader's disciple? Where on earth did such a disciple pop out from... Even if he were an absolute master or a monster with three heads and six arms, I have no intention of obediently following him."

Ha Wonjo, who had inherited the Zhaoling Sect from his predecessors, was still in his vigorous mid-forties.

He was full of spirit.

"He is not an opponent to be taken lightly."

"Haha. Senior, you have become much weaker."

Wu Tai was offended by Ha Wonjo's words.

"Well, seeing as the Namil Sect Master is acting as his puppet, he must be quite something."

"You will know when you experience it."

Even though Wu Tai advised him, Ha Wonjo acted arrogantly.

"The Namil Sect, aside from Ling Yunchan himself, has no notable masters, so they have no choice but to stick to him. Our sect is different. We cannot bow down without even fighting. At best, he is just one brat, isn't he?"

"The fact that the Namil Sect Master bowed his head means that Zhongnan has moved."

"Zhongnan is not one to take care of its secular families. It was surprising that they sent the 'Three Swords of Zhongnan'. It was a chance to witness the swords of Zhongnan this time, but it was a pity."

As Ha Wonjo continued to act arrogantly, Wu Tai stood up from his seat.

"The Meixian Fang will attend."

"Huh. Well, well. Then shall we go and have a look?"

"Do as you please."

When they were fighting the Namil Sect, the Zhaoling Sect was needed, but now it was not.

If Baekji wanted it, the 'Four Hegemons of Shaanxi' would all have to go under him anyway. It was useless to bicker.

Wu Tai's worries were elsewhere.

'What should I do about Mei Yanqing and Yang Zhaoling?'

Considering what he had done to Yang Jongu, it seemed he should be apprehended.

Although Mei Zhongjun had been revealed to be a hypocrite, he couldn't do that because of the affection they had from studying together.

The worries of the old martial artist deepened.

* * *

"Have you been summoned?"

Shangguan Ming, as always, was sitting at his office desk, looking at documents.

His sideburns seemed to have turned whiter.

"Are you feeling better now?"

"I'm fine now."

"That's a relief."

Shangguan Ming continued in a dry tone.

"Young Alliance Leader... what were you thinking when you did that?"

"At that time, I was so flustered... it just came out without me knowing."

"Hmm. Are you saying that the chief investigator of the military affairs department was so flustered that he spoke nonsense?"

Nangong Zhao couldn't have been unaware of the difference in status between the Alliance Leader's disciple and the Young Alliance Leader.

"You asked me to draw attention, but I couldn't think of any other way."

'Keung. This brat is using his head.'

It was ambiguous to blame him.

The one who had told Nangong Zhao to divert attention in the Alliance Leader's critical situation was the Chief Military Advisor himself.

Because Nangong Zhao had called him the Young Alliance Leader, the Alliance was split in two.

The faction that supported Baekji as the Young Alliance Leader and the faction that did not.

Because Baekji had disappeared, it had sunk below the surface, but it was a sensitive issue that could resurface at any time.

Now, the entire Alliance was paying attention to who would take the vacant position of Grand Elder after Haewol's death.

Since Haewol had built up his authority both openly and secretly for a long time, the position of Grand Elder was one that could reign as the real power of the Alliance.

"You will be removed from the Southern Patrol."

"..."

Nangong Zhao's expression hardened.

"Is it because of the squad leaders?"

When Shangguan Ming looked at him with a puzzled expression, Nangong Zhao realized that his thought was wrong.

"Was there any problem with the squad leaders?"

"No."

Shangguan Ming, threw a letter.

"Tang Yunseol has joined the Alliance. They say it was at the recommendation of the Alliance Leader."

"In the end..."

She had wanted to work in the Alliance... in the end... why didn't she consult me?

Then he realized. If he had consulted him, he would have opposed it.

Nevertheless, Nangong Zhao felt a sense of disappointment towards Tang Yunseol, who had decided to join the Alliance without consulting him.

Nangong Zhao opened the letter and his face flushed.

It was a letter that Baekji had sent to Shangguan Ming.

It said that he would live without any connection to the Alliance, so don't look for him, but at the end...

―...And if Tang Yunseol joins the Alliance, I hope you will put her under Nangong Zhao. I'm asking as the Honored One of the Household of the Tang family.

Nangong Zhao, with a flushed face, was fidgeting, and Shangguan Ming, with an inward smile, said, "Are you two quite close?"

"Ah, no..."

"I don't usually grant personal requests, but I'll make an exception this time. Instead, you and Tang Yunseol will go to the Yang-Bai Merchant Sect in Sichuan."

"What?"

"You and I both know that Baekji is not the Alliance Leader's disciple. I think he's from the Demonic Cult. The current righteous path is not a situation where such a person can emerge."

"...!"

Shangguan Ming's tone was not one of speculation, but close to conviction, so he could not refute it.

"Do you know that the 'Heaven-Shattering Demonic Saber' is the sword of the Demonic Cult's Northern Divine General, Mado?"

"Ah..."

"Baekji and Mado... they got along very naturally."

"........."

"The Alliance Leader has already sent Quan Bai and Seongcheon to the Yang-Bai Merchant Sect. The two are from the Wind and Cloud Pavilion. It's a system that reports only to the Alliance Leader. The Alliance Leader is temporarily... anyway, the military affairs department also needs a line."

Nangong Zhao, after thinking for a moment, asked, "Then is Baekji an enemy?"

"I didn't say that..."

"The moment the Central Plains martial world and the Demonic Cult reveal their identities, they are enemies."

Shangguan Ming, as if tired, rubbed his face with both palms and said, "What an old story you're talking about. I don't know. The main enemy of the Martial Alliance right now is the Blood Sect. It's a strong enemy that's not easy to handle. To be honest, I feel like I want to hold hands with even the Demonic Cult..."

"The great sects will not stand for it."

In the past, the ones who had suffered the greatest sacrifices in the 'Righteous-Demonic Great War' were the great sects and the Beggars' Sect.

"Well, that could be the case. Anyway, I don't want to be stabbed in the back by the Demonic Cult while fighting the Blood Sect. So I need to know what the Demonic Cult is thinking. That's your mission."

"I have a close relationship with Baekji."

Nangong Zhao said. Having a close relationship with the subject of an investigation was a reason for mission exclusion.

"Ah. Is that so? Then you'll get along well. Seeing as Baekji is very interested in you and Tang Yunseol, I think the mission will be easy. I'd like to receive the results quickly."

As expected, Shangguan Ming was a fox.

* * *

Wu Ping stood in front of the firmly closed main gate of the Yang Merchant Guild.

When the Namil Sect Master, Ling Yunchan, came with thirty members of his martial force, he said, "The martial force will wait outside, and only the Sect Master will enter."

As Ling Yunchan hesitated for a moment, Wu Tai came riding a horse alone.

He was the leader of the enemy they had fought fiercely with until yesterday.

Seeing this, Ling Yunchan said to his martial force, "You guys wait here."

Wu Ping got off his horse and bowed his head to the approaching Wu Tai.

"Uncle, please wait a moment."

"Alright."

Wu Tai and Ling Yunchan exchanged silent greetings. As the two stood awkwardly, averting their gazes, a moment later, the Zhaoling Sect Master, Ha Wonjo, appeared with about ten guards.

"Hahaha. You're already here. The authority of the Alliance Leader's disciple must be high."

As soon as he finished speaking, with the sound of clattering horse hooves, three people appeared.

It was Guan Wuhyeok, who had a half-moon saber at his waist, and his guards.

The large man in his mid-forties, Guan Wuhyeok, was a very rough-looking man, but his complexion was not good.

If it hadn't been for Ling Yunchan's earnest request, he would not have come.

When everyone had gathered, Wu Ping opened the main gate.

"Please come in. The Honored One is waiting."

The four passed through the main gate and the middle gate and went to the main hall.

On both sides of the main hall were flags that read 'Four Hegemons of Shaanxi Great Assembly'.

In the main hall, there was no head seat, but a round table with four chairs. Behind it was a large folding screen with a landscape painting, and the surrounding decorations were very elegant.

On one side was a folding screen made of translucent cloth, and behind it was a table, and three scholars were sitting there.

It felt like being in an old main hall, and also like being on a theater stage.

"..."

As the four sat down with uneasy expressions, Wu Tai said, "The Honored One is coming out."

Instantly, a large gong rang.

Kuuung―!

Dung, dung, dung, du-du-du-du.

Then, with a loud drumbeat, Baekji, properly dressed in a black battle uniform, walked out. His hair, which came down to his shoulders, was tied in a ponytail, and he even wore a battle hat.

He looked like a young general who had come out to the battlefield.

"Hahaha. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am the Honored One of the Yang-Bai Merchant Sect, Yang Baekji."

Baekji cupped his fists and bowed politely, then, cleared his throat.

As the drumming subsided, the sound of an 'ajaeng' (a Korean string instrument) rang out, clear and yet tragic.

Baekji puffed out his chest and opened his mouth.

"I, Yang Baekji, have invited the heroes of the 'Four Hegemons of Shaanxi' for no other reason than that I have felt that the winds and clouds that are currently rising in the martial world are unusual! The demonic hands of the Blood Sect that have covered the White Mountain Sect in Sichuan, the Tang family, and the Martial Alliance are gradually..."

Baekji, who was speaking as if he were performing a play, with a high-pitched voice.

Even his tone was reminiscent of an old play.

Combined with the melody of the 'ajaeng', the atmosphere was quite tragic.

As Baekji opened his mouth, the three people behind the folding screen moved their brushes and wrote it down.

It was a very strange sight.

"...In a situation where the wind carrying blood is blowing in Shaanxi, I have made a decision and have created this place. I believe that the heroes of the 'Four Hegemons of Shaanxi' will understand my sincere heart and will make an honorable decision that puts the great cause first."

Baekji's long speech ended.

The leaders of the 'Four Hegemons of Shaanxi' could not understand what Baekji was saying. Roughly understanding it, it seemed to be saying that since the Blood Sect would cause a calamity, the leaders of the 'Four Hegemons of Shaanxi' should unite.

Ha Wonjo frowned and said, "What on earth are you talking about? And what are those people doing?"

It was an unpleasant occasion to begin with, and since the brat seemed to be putting on a comedy, he was inwardly annoyed.

Baekji raised his hand at Ha Wonjo's words.

"Wait!"

Then he said to the scribes behind the folding screen, "Erase what that brat just said."

The person who had written down Ha Wonjo's words crumpled the paper.

Baekji approached Ha Wonjo.

"Let's talk for a moment."

"Wh-what?"

When Baekji put his hand on his shoulder, Ha Wonjo, while sitting, turned his body and was about to strike with his elbow.

But Baekji was faster.

"Ugh!"

Ha Wonjo felt his body go numb the moment his shoulder was touched.

Baekji grabbed Ha Wonjo's shoulder and dragged him to the back of the main hall.

It had happened in an instant, without anyone having time to stop him.

Ling Yunchan and Guan Wuhyeok's gazes met. As Guan Wuhyeok's hand grabbed the saber that was standing up, Ling Yunchan stopped him with his gaze.

Wu Tai lowered his head and his gaze.

'It has begun...'

An uneasy silence flowed.

How much time had passed?

"What on earth is this? To call people and do such a strange thing!"

Guan Wuhyeok, unable to bear it, shot up, and Baekji and Ha Wonjo came in side by side.

Although Ha Wonjo was staggering slightly, he was walking on his own two feet.

Baekji said, "I'm sorry. It seems there was someone who did not understand the 'Four Hegemons of Shaanxi Great Assembly', so we had a separate talk for a moment. You understand enough now, right? The guest... ah...! But, who was it?"

Baekji asked the name of Ha Wonjo, whom he had just beaten to a pulp.

"Ah... I am Ha Wonjo of the Zhaoling Sect."

"So you were Sect Master Ha. Please go and sit down."

Ha Wonjo nodded his head vigorously and hurriedly sat down.

"Well then... shall we move on to the next chapter? Why is that person standing there?"

Guan Wuhyeok, who had stood up, shouting heroically, became awkward.

He had also heard the rumors about Baekji. For the past few days, Xi'an had been full of stories about Baekji.

Although it was burdensome, the situation had become such that he could not just back down.

'No matter how much of an absolute master he is, this is not right... to make a fool of people.'

Guan Wuhyeok was a man who had lived, trusting in a single half-moon saber.

He glared and said, "Why should I join hands with a brat like Ha Wonjo? There is no reason for me to be here!"

At that, Ha Wonjo, who was about to sit down, flared up.

"I, too, do not want to deal with a brat who only cleans up horse dung like you."

Although he had been beaten by Baekji, he was not afraid of Guan Wuhyeok.

There was also a sense of desperation that if he was pushed back here, it would be the end.

As the two confronted each other, Baekji raised his hand towards the scribe.

"Don't write this situation down either. It seems we need to coordinate a little more."

The scribes put down their brushes.

(End of Chapter)