Little Demon Reversion to Youth

Chapter 161

Yang-Bai Merchant Sect Estate, Back Mountain.

Jin Tiansuo, who had been climbing the winding path for a while, reached the middle of the mountain and found a person standing on a bent path.

A middle-aged man with a tall, slender build of seven feet was wearing a gray martial arts uniform, and a coiled whip hung from his waist.

Tie Zhangshenbian glared at Jin Tiansuo, who was coming up carrying a large sack, with suspicious eyes.

To be running an errand for food... the aura he exuded was not ordinary.

Although Tie Zhangshenbian prided himself on knowing all the masters of the martial world, he could not figure out Jin Tiansuo's identity.

Well, who would have imagined that the Heaven Lord of the Black Path's Four Shrines Heaven would be carrying food?

"Who are you?"

Tie Zhangshenbian's voice was cold.

Jin Tiansuo also immediately knew that the man in front of him was a master of the 'flower realm'.

"If you are going to block the path in a deserted mountain and ask for the identity of a passerby, shouldn't you first reveal who you are?"

"This path is not for anyone to take. State your business."

"By any chance, are you a mountain bandit?"

The two, while talking, subtly changed their stances.

"..."

After a moment of silence, Jin Tiansuo spoke first.

"Tie Zhangshenbian... to see the third-ranked of the Ten Great Masters in this mountain."

Tie Zhangshenbian flinched.

"If you know, then get lost."

"But I must pass."

"You cannot pass without revealing your identity and purpose."

"This is... to think that a person called one of the Ten Great Masters would block the path and throw a tantrum."

"What? A tantrum?"

Tie Zhangshenbian let out a hollow laugh, as if he were dumbfounded.

To think that there was a human who was so calm and composed even after knowing his title...

No, there were quite a few such humans in the Yang-Bai Merchant Sect.

It was truly a series of humiliating days.

The brat called Chief Steward Ah-jok had made him have a martial arts contest every single day. He had even forced the method of the martial arts contest.

On the first day, when he had sent his opponent flying out of the martial arts stage with a single blow, Ah-jok had jumped.

―What do you think you're doing? If you win in one breath... how empty would the opponent feel? Didn't you see what Mado did? You have to respond appropriately. Think from the opponent's perspective. They are having a martial arts contest for a large sum of money, so who would do it if they were knocked out in one blow?

At least Ah-jok sought him out; the others didn't even give him a glance.

Even if he went out to Joga-hyeon and just sat in a teahouse, all sorts of riffraff would come and flatter him... no, that's not right. Sometimes, a human called Senior Oh would come. He had to avoid that brat.

Anyway, the reason why he was enduring this humiliation and sticking to the Yang-Bai Merchant Sect was... to see her, even if it was just sometimes...

After she had gone up the back mountain, he could not see her at all.

On top of that, he was worried because the Blood Demon had appeared.

For the past few days, he had been loitering on the back mountain path whenever he had a chance.

'Why am I doing this?'

In that moment, Tie Zhangshenbian flinched.

The reason why he was carrying a sack of food on this path was obvious.

But he didn't like the fact that such a handsome brat was going.

'It is a tantrum.'

Tie Zhangshenbian sighed at his own situation. But he could not back down like this.

"Alright... let's say it's a tantrum. If you can withstand my one 'zhang', I will let you pass."

"Hmm. Alright."

Jin Tiansuo put down the sack of food and, clapped his hands.

Tie Zhangshenbian's eyes narrowed.

'He's not an easy brat.'

With the honor of one of the Ten Great Masters, he could not attack first.

"Come."

"I will not refuse."

Jin Tiansuo ran as if he were sweeping the ground and then, threw a punch.

Kwang―!

An explosive sound erupted from the back mountain of the Yang-Bai Merchant Sect.

* * *

"'Gu Yunzi'... what is this old life that he sacrificed himself... I have lost a lifelong friend."

The Alliance Leader closed his two eyes. Tears formed in the corners of his eyes.

'Gu Yunzi' was the title of the Fengyun Pavilion Master. Shangguan Ming did not even know the Fengyun Pavilion Master's real name. He was such a mysterious person.

'His heart has weakened...'

Shangguan Ming's heart, ached at the tears of the Alliance Leader, whom he had looked up to as an iron-blooded warrior. Does the will of iron and blood also weaken with the years?

"Was I wrong?"

The Alliance Leader muttered as if he were talking to himself.

The Martial Alliance, where numerous forces had gathered. The Alliance Leader, instead of suppressing them with force, had focused on having each force check each other and achieve a balance.

He had minimized the cases where he stepped forward himself.

Thanks to that, he had gained time to devote himself to training, but the conflict between the forces had also intensified.

As the Alliance Leader wavered, each force had erupted at once and was heading towards internal strife.

"No. If you had ruled with an iron fist, the great sects and the noble families would have rebelled, and the Martial Alliance would have already disappeared."

Shangguan Ming said his thoughts.

"..."

After a moment of silence, the Alliance Leader said, "I am going back to the Alliance."

"It is still dangerous."

"No, I do not have much time left."

The Alliance Leader was counting his own lifespan. Although he had trained his entire life and had reached the 'natural realm', he had reached his limit with a human body.

"Did you say the 'Blood Heaven's Descent'? I must at least make some preparations before I leave."

"..."

Shangguan Ming bowed his head. His expression was one of self-reproach.

"Why is that?"

"Because I was lacking... to not even know that the Blood Sect was secretly active... I have no face."

"No... the opponent is a being beyond what we thought."

The Alliance Leader had heard about the identity of the Blood Cult Leader, 'Zhong Yue', from Baekji.

When he heard that it was an old soul that had been passed down for thousands of years and was aiming for ascension, he could understand why the Blood Cult Leader he had faced in the past had been so strong.

'To change physical bodies and aim for ascension...'

It was a method that was tempting enough to even sway the Alliance Leader himself.

He had trained his entire life and had reached the 'natural realm', which was said to be impossible for a human. But his lifespan was running out, and death was just around the corner.

If he were to obtain a new physical body with the 'Great Soul Reincarnation Art'... then he might be able to break through the 'harmony realm', the 'limitless realm', and the 'void realm' and achieve ascension.

At the same time, he also realized how dangerous the 'Spirit Immortal Sect' was.

If even he was swayed, how fatal a temptation would eternal life be to an ordinary person?

If it weren't for the evil method of taking another's soul... I would also have been interested...

'What am I thinking?'

The Alliance Leader, at the thought that suddenly crossed his mind, shook his head vigorously.

At the same time, Baekji's words came to mind.

―In my opinion, that brat is doing something futile. The soul, spirit, and ethereal soul are one, but... that brat has been passed down only by his soul. Countless people have been sacrificed due to the obsession of a twisted soul. It's absurd.

The Young Lord of the Demonic Cult who had reincarnated to catch the Blood Cult Leader.

A subtle smile flowed on the Alliance Leader's face.

To think that the one to deal with the evil shadow that had been cast over the Central Plains martial world was the Demonic Cult, the nemesis of the Righteous Path.

Although he had long since abandoned the stereotype of the righteous, the demonic, and the heretical, the more he thought about it, the more mysteriously the principles of the world came to him.

―Just hold on a little longer. Then I'll catch that brat, no... it would be those brats. No matter how many brats there are, I'll catch them all. If you've enjoyed the position of Alliance Leader for half your life, shouldn't you at least do that much before you leave?

Baekji's words echoed in his ears.

The Alliance Leader said to Shangguan Ming, "Baekji said he was promoting the 'Blood-Shattering Alliance' and requested cooperation."

"The 'Blood-Shattering Alliance'?"

"He said that to break the Blood Sect, the alliance should include the righteous, the demonic, and the heretical."

"To include the righteous, the demonic, and the heretical... will the great sects and the noble families accept it?"

"It won't be easy. Besides, if there are 'Spirit Immortal Sect' members among them... the opposition will be great. The Alliance might even break."

"If you're not careful, you, Alliance Leader, might take all the blame. It is not possible."

"No. What is so important about my one honor? It is a life that my lifelong friend saved by sacrificing himself. I just have to not be ashamed before him."

Shangguan Ming, knowing that the Alliance Leader had made up his mind, did not argue any further.

"They say the Four Shrines Heaven's military advisor, Scholar Bing, and the Demonic Advisor are at the Yang-Bai Merchant Sect. He said they would come to see me. After we discuss it, let's leave for the Alliance right away."

"Scholar Bing? The Demonic Advisor? Are you saying they are at the Yang-Bai Merchant Sect?"

Shangguan Ming asked back in surprise.

"What on earth is Honored One Yang's identity? The Four Shrines Heaven and the Demonic Cult..."

He had thought he was a person of the Demonic Cult, but to think that he was also connected to the Four Shrines Heaven... he was confused.

"Hehe. He is my disciple, isn't he?"

The Alliance Leader, 'hehe', let out a laugh.

* * *

Yang Soryeong's expression, as she sat in her office, was quite serious. Even though Baekho was rolling around next to her, she could not even give him a glance and was rummaging through documents.

Baekji, who came in and saw Yang Soryeong like that, asked, "Is something wrong?"

Yang Soryeong, who had not even known that Baekji had come in, 'ah', raised her head.

"Yes. I'm thinking of seriously entering the escort agency business."

"The escort agency business?"

"Since we are far from Chengdu, it is inconvenient to send and receive goods. I think it would be better if we operated an escort agency."

"Master, business is good, but you shouldn't neglect your training. No matter how much you have undergone a 'bone and flesh transformation', if your training is insufficient, your fine meridians will be blocked again."

"Yes, we all gather in the morning and train. But since everyone has their own work... we can't train all day."

"A big event will happen in the martial world soon."

Baekji told her about the 'Blood Heaven's Descent'. Yang Soryeong's face turned pale.

"The Blood Sect... they are people who kill anyone, right?"

The reason why the Blood Sect was feared was because they harmed human lives, regardless of whether they were enemies or common people.

"They are very dangerous brats. But... I think I will have to leave the estate for a while. So you have to protect yourselves."

He could not tell Yang Soryeong that he was going to the Demonic Cult.

"Did you find your identity? Have your memories returned?"

Yang Soryeong still thought that Baekji was in the process of finding his identity.

"Yes. I think it's related."

"That's a relief. I hope you find it this time."

Yang Soryeong was happy as if it were her own business.

'Aigoo, my naive master... how shocked would she be if she knew I was the Young Lord of the Demonic Cult?'

Baekji stealthily asked, "What if... I found my identity... and I'm a bad person?"

"That can't be! You are good-natured."

"I said 'what if'. What if... my origin is the Demonic Cult..."

"Hoho..."

Yang Soryeong covered her mouth and laughed, as if it were absurd.

"If you are of the Demonic Cult, then I must be a white-haired witch."

"A white-haired witch?"

"Senior Oh told me the story of the white-haired witch."

Senior Oh... this chatterbox...

Yang Soryeong stopped laughing and said, "I don't care where your origin is or what you did before you lost your memories. Because I believe in the current Baekji."

"Yes... really?"

"Of course! So find your identity this time."

"It's not something I can do as I please... I have to go and see."

Baekji changed the subject.

"I'm thinking of sending Zhang San and Senior Oh to the Martial Alliance. Since the Alliance Leader is going to the Martial Alliance, it seems... he will need guards."

"Will two people be enough? How about sending the martial force?"

"If the Blood Sect becomes rampant, the Yang-Bai Merchant Sect also has to have a martial force."

Baekji took out a bamboo box from his bosom.

"What is that?"

"You, Master, Ah-jok, Zhang San, and Senior Oh have achieved a 'bone and flesh transformation' while training in the back mountain, so you can just train as you are, but... the Seven Plums seem to be a bit lacking. Feed them one of these each."

When Yang Soryeong smelled it, it had a very bitter smell.

"You can also make miraculous medicines?"

"I learned it from the 'Divine Doctor of Life and Death' this time. If the Seven Plums reach the peak, there won't be a big danger with just the power of Songhwa Hall. Give the one that's left to Shang Yiqing."

"Big brother Yiqing?"

"Yes. Say it's a wedding gift."

"A wedding gift?"

"There's something like that."

* * *

There was no feeling in his 'lower dantian'. His whole body just felt limp.

'What kind of medicinal effect is this?'

Nangong Zhao had eaten all sorts of miraculous medicines since he was young.

When he ate a miraculous medicine, his 'lower dantian' would usually become warm, and his entire body's meridians would become strong.

But this medicine... his body felt limp, as if it were a cotton ball soaked in water.

Nangong Zhao endured his body, which was becoming as heavy as a thousand 'jin', sat down, and circulated his energy. But it was no use.

Although the true energy flowed out of his 'lower dantian' inner core and circulated through his entire body's meridians, his body was still limp.

'Ugh...'

He had to be like this for three days?

What kind of medicine was this?

(End of Chapter)