Little Demon Reversion to Youth

Chapter 16

The day after returning to the Songhua Hall.

A White Mountain Brigade warrior ran up and reported, "They say the Qingcheng Sect has arrived ten li away. General Manager Ximen asks you to go out and greet them together."

Qingcheng was a prestigious sect that could not even be compared to the White Mountain Sect. Although the White Mountain Sect had considerable power in Sichuan, it was just an ordinary sect compared to Qingcheng, Emei, or the Tang family.

Therefore, it was a sign of respect for the Qingcheng Sect for the sect master to go out and greet them in person.

Yang Soryeong went to the main gate with Baekji.

The White Mountain Brigade was lined up in front of the main gate, and General Manager Ximen was waiting.

At noon, a procession was seen in the distance.

About thirty members of the Great Light Brigade, led by Hu Yeonjo, stood in front, followed by Taoists in blue robes.

The procession walked slowly, so they had to wait for a while.

Finally, Hu Yeonjo, who was at the head of the procession, came into view.

Hu Yeonjo was also walking, and right behind him, the Great Light Brigade members were following, leading their horses.

"Why are they leading their horses? Horses are for riding."

Baekji muttered, finding it strange.

Hu Yeonjo's complexion was very bad. Seeing General Manager Ximen, he gritted his teeth.

It was General Manager Ximen who had made him take the body to the Qingcheng Sect without even knowing that True Man Changshan was a fake.

Hu Yeonjo had been humiliated at the Qingcheng Sect. The Qingcheng Sect had dispatched Taoists, saying they had to find out the identity of the one who had impersonated True Man Changshan, and Hu Yeonjo had walked, attending to them.

Since the Taoists of Qingcheng did not ride horses, Hu Yeonjo also had to walk.

Normally, he would have ridden a horse, and the Great Light Brigade members would have used their lightness skill to arrive in an instant, but it had taken them nearly a month to walk.

The Qingcheng Taoists did not use their lightness skill, but their steps were very fast.

Hu Yeonjo and the Great Light Brigade members had to almost run to keep up. It would have been better if they had used their lightness skill, but the speed didn't match.

After walking at a fast pace for several days, even Hu Yeonjo was tired.

Hu Yeonjo, who was as elegant as he was handsome, was usually well-dressed, but his appearance was a mess.

Hu Yeonjo arrived first and dusted off his dusty shoes.

Poof.

Dust billowed up.

"General Manager Ximen, it seems we have much to talk about."

"Greeting the guests comes first, so let's talk later."

General Manager Ximen slightly averted his gaze and went towards the Qingcheng Taoists following behind the White Mountain Brigade.

"The White Mountain Sect welcomes the Taoists of Qingcheng."

The White Mountain Brigade shouted thunderously.

General Manager Ximen stood in front of the Qingcheng Taoists with a smiling face.

"I am Ximen Suo, the general manager of the White Mountain Sect. I greet the immortals of Mount Qingcheng."

A Taoist of about sixty years old made a half-bow and announced his Taoist name.

"Immeasurable Longevity Buddha. This Taoist is Zhang Ming of Qingcheng."

"!"

General Manager Ximen showed extreme respect.

"It is an honor for the White Mountain Sect that Pine Crane Ancient Moon has come in person."

The 'Zhang' generation was the generation of the Qingcheng Sect Master, and Zhang Ming was a master known in the martial world by the nickname Pine Crane Ancient Moon.

Although Bai Renguang was one of the top one hundred masters, he was on the lower end and was sometimes even pushed out of the top one hundred. In contrast, Zhang Ming was definitely counted among the top one hundred masters.

'For Qingcheng to send a master like Zhang Ming, I can see how seriously they are taking this matter.'

A chill ran down General Manager Ximen's spine.

Zhang Ming just looked at the main gate without a word.

General Manager Ximen realized he had made a mistake.

He quickly said to Yang Soryeong, "Acting Sect Master, they have come from Qingcheng."

Yang Soryeong, wearing a veil, stepped forward and cupped her fists.

"Yang Soryeong, the acting sect master of the White Mountain Sect, greets the Taoist master."

"Immeasurable Longevity Buddha! I am Zhang Ming of Qingcheng."

Zhang Ming originally had a stoic expression, making him a difficult person to approach.

But a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.

He had not known that the sect master of the White Mountain Sect would be such a young girl.

Hu Yeonjo had not explained the detailed situation.

General Manager Ximen stepped forward.

"The Sect Master and the Young Sect Master are in seclusion, so the Young Mistress is acting as the sect master."

"I see."

Zhang Ming answered briefly and then turned around to introduce the Qingcheng Taoists.

"These two are Zhen Hui and Zhen Jing of the Thirty-six Waters of Qingcheng, and the four behind them are second-generation disciples, Shui Yue, Shui Gong, Shui Yang, and Shui Hua."

At the words that the Taoists of about forty were members of the Thirty-six Waters of Qingcheng, General Manager Ximen's complexion hardened even more.

'For two of the Thirty-six Waters to come with Pine Crane Ancient Moon...'

Yang Soryeong's gaze was on the old Taoist at the very back.

Zhang Ming introduced the old Taoist.

"That is my martial uncle, True Man Changshan."

At the words that the old Taoist was True Man Changshan, everyone's gaze was drawn to him.

Everyone knew that this mess had started because of the fake True Man Changshan, so they were curious to see what the real one would say.

Except for being skinny, True Man Changshan was completely different from the fake True Man Changshan.

Unlike the fake True Man Changshan with his sharp eyes, his round eyes sparkled.

Yang Soryeong took a step forward, cupped her fists, and bowed her upper body.

"Yang Soryeong, the acting sect master of the White Mountain Sect, greets the True Man."

True Man Changshan looked at Yang Soryeong, smiled warmly, and gestured.

"Aigoo. A sect master at such a young age. You must be going through a lot. Come here. I'll give you something delicious."

True Man Changshan put his hand into his bosom and was about to take something out.

Zhang Ming was flustered and hurriedly approached to stop True Man Changshan.

"Martial Uncle, you can't do this here. Let's go inside."

Zhang Ming said to Yang Soryeong, as if making an excuse, "My martial uncle is very fond of children..."

He trailed off, realizing his mistake, and 'ah'-ed, then quickly changed the subject.

Although Yang Soryeong was young, she was the sect master of a sect. He had almost treated her like a child.

"Sect Master Yang, we have come a long way, so we would like to rest first."

General Manager Ximen interjected like a magpie again.

"We have prepared a detached villa. Please come in."

Everyone entered the White Mountain Sect.

"I will guide you. Sect Master, please go and rest."

General Manager Ximen guided the Qingcheng Taoists and disappeared.

Hu Yeonjo glared at General Manager Ximen, then turned and went to his own quarters.

Yang Soryeong, left alone, felt awkward and looked around, but Baekji was gone.

When she looked around, he was following the Qingcheng Taoists.

"Baekji!"

When Yang Soryeong called, Baekji turned around and gestured. It meant 'wait'.

Baekji stuck close to True Man Changshan.

"What's the delicious thing?"

"Huh?"

True Man Changshan looked at Baekji, who had suddenly appeared next to him.

"You said you'd give my master something delicious."

"Master?"

"Over there."

Baekji pointed at Yang Soryeong.

"Hmm. Yes, yes. That one is quite cute."

True Man Changshan rolled his sparkling eyes and took out a large dumpling wrapped in pine needles from his bosom.

"Here. Share it."

"Hehe."

Baekji took the dumpling and went to Yang Soryeong.

Seeing this, Zhang Ming looked at General Manager Ximen with a dumbfounded face.

General Manager Ximen said, as if making an excuse, "He is a servant brought from the Acting Sect Master's family, but he is a bit slow in the head."

Since he was a fool, Zhang Ming didn't say anything more.

Baekji came to Yang Soryeong, broke the dumpling in half, handed her one half, and swallowed the other half.

"It's delicious."

"You eat the rest."

Yang Soryeong waved her hand. She was not confident about the dumpling that had come from the grimy True Man Changshan's bosom.

"Really?"

Baekji did not hesitate and put the rest in his mouth.

The two returned to the Songhua Hall.

On the way, Baekji went to the warehouse and got some autumn clothes.

"What's that? Are those handcuffs?"

Baekji asked, looking at the iron lumps in a corner of the warehouse.

"They're for physical training. If you wear them on your wrists and ankles, you can build strength."

The warehouse keeper said.

"Really?"

Baekji took the iron lumps.

"They're heavy, so I'll have someone send them later."

"What, with just this?"

Baekji lightly slung the iron lumps over his shoulder.

"Heok!"

The warehouse keeper's mouth fell open.

"You'll catch flies. Close your mouth."

Baekji returned with a light step.

Ajok, Senior Oh, and Jang Sam were training.

"Were you playing around?"

"Can't you see we're training right now?"

"You're not sweating at all. You were playing around until now and just started when I came, didn't you?"

'He's a ghost.'

Ajok and the others were at a loss for words.

"You shouldn't do that. If you're lazy in your training just because your master is not here, you can't become a master."

Baekji held out the iron lumps.

"Wear these."

Ajok obediently put on the iron lumps, but Senior Oh and Jang Sam refused.

"What are these?"

"They're shackles. Why do we have to wear these?"

Thwack!

Thwack-thwack!

Baekji beat the three of them.

"Aack. Master! Why are you doing this!"

"I put them on. Why are you hitting me too!"

"Endurance training is also martial arts training."

"Aaaack!"

For a while, wails came from the backyard.

Senior Oh and Jang Sam also put on the iron lumps.

"Hee-ing. What is this? It looks so uncool."

Senior Oh rubbed his bruised eyes and looked mournful. With the iron lumps on, it was not easy to even lift a hand.

"Live like that for a while."

Baekji was speaking when he looked towards the door. A White Mountain Brigade warrior came in and went towards the Songhua Hall.

"What's wrong?"

Baekji, who couldn't stand being curious, ran over. At that, everyone followed.

The White Mountain Brigade warrior delivered the message to Yang Soryeong.

"They say there will be a banquet in the evening to entertain the Taoist masters of the Qingcheng Sect."

"Can't General Manager Ximen just preside over it?"

Yang Soryeong didn't want to go.

"They say you must come."

"Let's go, it's a banquet. There will be a lot of food."

At Baekji's words, Jang Sam drooled.

"I will also escort the grandmaster."

"Me too."

"Me too."

So they all decided to go together.

Ajok and the others changed into the new autumn martial arts uniforms they had gotten and looked quite like martial artists.

"Oho, you look quite like warriors."

When they each got a sword and a saber and wore them at their waists, they really looked like warriors.

"Keh. How do I look? Don't I look like a White Mountain Brigade leader?"

Senior Oh boasted.

"What's a White Mountain Brigade leader?"

"It's my nickname."

Ajok slapped his knee.

"Right, I wanted a nickname too. I'll be... I'll be 'Lightning Saber'."

"What about me? What should I be?"

As Jang Sam tilted his head, Ajok said, "Be 'Thunderclap Saber'. A nickname that matches your martial arts is the best."

"Oh. Thunderclap Saber! I like it. It suits me perfectly."

Seeing Jang Sam's delight, Senior Oh muttered, "Is that so? It has to match the martial arts?"

Senior Oh thought for a moment and then said, "I'll have to change it to 'Free and Easy Senior Brother'."

The three of them made up their own nicknames and then drew their weapons and swung them.

Only Baekji was empty-handed.

"Shouldn't I have something too?"

Baekji looked around, and the bamboo staff he used to guide Ajok and the others' training caught his eye.

"I'll use this."

"Master, what is that? You should wear a sword or a saber."

Senior Oh sneered.

Thwack!

Baekji struck Senior Oh's head with the bamboo.

"Keuk!"

Senior Oh's eyes rolled back in his head, and he collapsed.

"If I hit you with a sword, you'll bleed."

Baekji said.

In the evening, Baekji led Yang Soryeong to the banquet hall.

General Manager Ximen, Hu Yeonjo, Yu Mungwang, and other brigade leaders occupied the head seats and were waiting for the Qingcheng Sect Taoists.

Below, the deputy brigade leaders of the martial force and key cadres were sitting around large tables.

People frowned when they saw Baekji and the others following behind Yang Soryeong in a group.

"Who are they?"

"Aren't they the servants of the Songhua Hall?"

"How dare those servant brats!"

The banquet hall was a place where only those of deputy brigade leader rank and above could attend.

"They are my disciples, no, my grand-disciples."

Yang Soryeong said.

"Grand-disciples? Grand-disciples or whatever, wait outside."

General Manager Ximen wanted to ask Yang Soryeong why she had so many grand-disciples, but he was short on time and tried to drive them out.

But Senior Oh, with a feigned, polite demeanor, stepped forward and said, "It is difficult to follow the General Manager's orders. The safety of our grandmaster is more important to us than anything."

"Ahem, these brats? Get out. Don't you know what kind of place this is?"

"If my disciples have to go, I will go too."

Yang Soryeong turned her body.

"Acting Sect Master, the guests will be here soon, so this is difficult."

"General Manager Ximen will take care of everything anyway."

At Yang Soryeong's words, Hu Yeonjo suddenly interjected.

"The Acting Sect Master's words are right. General Manager Ximen, don't you think you're overstepping your bounds?"

Just as General Manager Ximen's face turned red and he was about to say something, someone shouted from outside.

"We have brought the Taoist masters of Qingcheng."

Then, the Taoists, including Zhang Ming, entered in a group. True Man Changshan was not seen.

In the meantime, Baekji and his disciples quickly seated Yang Soryeong at the head seat on the dais and brought a dining table next to it and sat down.

General Manager Ximen was furious at the sight, but he couldn't show his ugliness in front of the Qingcheng Sect Taoists.

The Qingcheng Taoists sat at the head seats opposite General Manager Ximen, Hu Yeonjo, and Yu Mungwang.

Servants brought food and placed it.

Baekji and the others' faces brightened, and they rushed to the dining table and ate.

Zhang Ming and the other Qingcheng Taoists did not even glance at the greasy food.

It wasn't that Taoists didn't eat meat, but it was food they didn't enjoy.

General Manager Ximen stood up and said, "Sect Master, since the immortals have graced us with their presence from afar in Qingcheng, please say a few words of greeting."

Yang Soryeong stood up, cupped her fists towards Zhang Ming and the others, and said, "Due to a misfortune in the White Mountain Sect, I, who am young, have come to greet the various Taoist masters as the acting sect master. As I am still young and do not know the etiquette of the martial world and the Taoist school, I ask for your understanding if I make any mistakes."

Yang Soryeong's voice was clear and distinct. After learning martial arts, her voice also carried strength.

Zhang Ming's eyes flashed once.

Although she was a young girl, her sharp way of speaking was extraordinary.

(End of Chapter)