Little Demon Reversion to Youth

Chapter 164

Someone on the fortress wall said, "That's Central Plains money, alright. Open the gate."

Kkii-iik...

The fortress gate opened slightly.

"Hurry and come in."

As Baekji entered through the gap in the open fortress gate, about ten soldiers aimed their spears at him. The one who seemed to be the captain had drawn a long saber.

"Heo-geok!"

Baekji raised both his hands. As five or six silver coins rolled from his hands, everyone's gaze turned to the silver coins.

A greedy light flashed in everyone's eyes, and Baekji covered the silver coins by stepping on them with his foot.

The one who seemed to be the captain frowned and asked, "What did you say your name was?"

"Yang Baek... So Baek-cheon."

The person next to the captain said in a suspicious tone, "Didn't you say Yang Baekji earlier?"

"Huh? Yang Baek is my courtesy name... didn't I say So Baek-cheon? I must have misspoken because I was hungry."

As Baekji spoke, he took out his identification tag and showed it. It was a fake identification tag that the Demonic Advisor had made. At the same time, he stealthily removed his foot that was on the silver coins. One silver coin was visible. The captain let out a dry cough, examined the identification tag, and then said, "A Central Plains identification tag is useless here. It means that no matter who you are, it won't work here. What business do you have in Yuecheng?"

"This is Yuecheng? I didn't know. I heard there was a large lake in Qinghai, so I came to see it... but I got lost."

The captain looked Baekji up and down.

"A young brat came to travel alone? How suspicious."

"I had a party... but I was the only one who got separated in the sandstorm. By any chance, could they be here?"

As Baekji moved his foot again, this time, a second silver coin was visible.

The captain's expression softened.

"But why did you close the fortress gate in broad daylight and not let me in?"

"It seems you haven't heard the news. The 'Blood Wind Squad' is coming, so the fortress has been closed."

"'Blood Wind Squad'? A group of horse bandits?"

"They are more ruthless brats than horse bandits."

Baekji, while listening to the captain's words, looked around the fortress. A large main road led to the inner fortress, and on both sides were buildings made of a mixture of mud, stone, and wood.

It was a completely different scene from the cities of the Central Plains.

The streets and buildings were overflowing with people. There were people from the villages outside the fortress who seemed to have taken refuge, as well as merchants, soldiers, and all sorts of people teeming.

Baekji picked up the silver coin at his feet and handed it to the captain.

"I'm hungry... where is the best inn here?"

The captain let out a dry cough, hid the silver coin, and then pointed to a place with his finger.

In Baekji's eyes, a three-story brick building in the middle of the main road came into view. A flag that said 'Yuecheng Inn' was fluttering, and it was the most magnificent, no matter who looked at it.

As Baekji was going to the Yuecheng Inn, it was difficult to move because there were so many people. He barely managed to get to the front of the inn, but the waiter stuck his head out and waved his hand.

"This place is full. Go to that alley over there."

Baekji's clothes were all covered in dirt from wandering in the canyon for several days and nights. Moreover, since he looked young, the waiter ignored him.

'Che...'

Although he was offended, he could not argue with the waiter.

It was not a lie; every inn on the main road was overflowing with people.

Baekji entered the narrow alley that the waiter had told him about. At the end of the alley was a shabby inn.

The walls were stained black, and the first-floor restaurant had only three tables. And on one of the tables were half-trimmed vegetables.

Baekji had no intention of going in at all.

"I'd rather sleep outside."

He turned back and went to the Yuecheng Inn. At least this place was less crowded.

When the waiter saw Baekji, he frowned.

"Why are you here again? I told you there are no rooms."

"Who asked for a room? I came to eat."

The waiter waved his hand.

"Not today. Our inn has to serve special guests, so go somewhere else."

"Special guests?"

"It's a place where those who will save our Yuecheng from the 'Blood Wind Squad' have gathered."

Baekji looked inside. There were various people, such as Taoists, martial artists, and merchants.

"Who is going to deal with the 'Blood Wind Squad'?"

"You have eyes, but you can't see. Do you see those three Taoist masters over there? They are Taoist masters from the Kunlun Sect. Those warriors over there are famous masters from Qinghai. Do you see those young martial artists over there? They are masters from the Central Plains Martial Alliance's 'Dragon and Phoenix Society'..."

"'Dragon and Phoenix Society'?"

He seemed to have heard that there was a 'Dragon and Phoenix Society' in the Martial Alliance.

The waiter said in a tragic voice, "At the news that those people have joined forces to protect Yuecheng, countless martial artists are still joining... so we can't accept just anyone."

"I'm alone... I'll eat quietly on the side and go."

"No. The fortress lord has given a special order to serve only those who will deal with the 'Blood Wind Squad'. The fortress lord will be here soon. If I accept a child like you, I'll be scolded."

Baekji rolled his eyes and then said, "I'm also quite strong..."

"Stop talking nonsense and go somewhere else... heok!"

The waiter's eyes stared intently at Baekji's hand. Baekji had taken out a silver coin and had crushed it with his hand strength.

"I will also contribute to protecting Yuecheng. At least I can protect this inn. So let's go in."

The waiter's back bent.

"I did not recognize a great person. Please give me the horse."

The waiter took the reins of Oh-ryong's horse, handed them to the stable keeper, and then guided Baekji into the restaurant.

Baekji put the crushed silver coin in the waiter's hand and said, "I haven't been able to wash for several days... and I haven't been able to eat properly."

"Hmm. There are no rooms right now, but... I will prepare a bathroom, so please wash first."

The waiter guided him to the bathroom. Baekji washed and then took out new clothes from his bundle and put them on. Only then did he feel like he was alive.

The waiter, who saw the handsome Baekji, slapped his own cheek.

"What are you doing? Why are you slapping your own cheek?"

"To not recognize such a handsome young master... I have spoken rashly. I deserve to be hit."

"It can happen. There's no need to self-harm... just give me some food. The most delicious thing."

Baekji looked around the restaurant, but the only remaining seat was a corner seat.

Most of the people who occupied the seats were martial artists from Qinghai, and unlike their rough appearance, they were surprisingly quietly eating their food.

The Kunlun Sect Taoist masters and the 'Dragon and Phoenix Society' martial artists were sitting at a table by the window.

There were three Kunlun Taoists in total: two middle-aged Taoists and a young Taoist who looked to be about thirteen or fourteen.

At the table opposite the Taoists were five handsome men and beautiful women. Seeing their attire and weapons, one could tell at a glance that they were descendants of a great renowned family.

There were three men and two women, and the women had their faces covered with veils.

The Kunlun Taoists and the 'Dragon and Phoenix Society' seemed to be one group, and the atmosphere also seemed heavy.

The waiter brought the food.

Baekji grabbed the waiter's sleeve and whispered, "Why is the atmosphere like this?"

"Didn't I say the 'Blood Wind Squad' is coming? It's natural."

Only then did Baekji realize that he did not know the 'Blood Wind Squad'.

"It seems they are not a simple group of horse bandits."

"Huh? You decided to fight the 'Blood Wind Squad' without even knowing that?"

"...I have to eat."

The waiter said, as if he were dumbfounded.

"The 'Blood Wind Squad' is the most ruthless martial force of the So family, the head family among the twelve guardian families of the Demonic Cult. It is said that where they pass, not even a single blade of grass is left."

"The Demonic Cult? The Demonic Cult is in the Heavenly Mountains. They came all the way here?"

"How would I know their true intentions?"

Baekji tilted his head. What reason would the Demonic Cult, which was at the end of Xinjiang, have to send a martial force all the way to the south of Qinghai?

Although Yuecheng was larger than an ordinary village, it was still a small fortress with no more than a few tens of thousands of people... what was there to eat?

"Is the 'Blood Wind Squad' aiming for Yuecheng? Why are they aiming for a small fortress like this? Aren't they just passing by?"

"If that were the case, why would the fortress lord close the fortress and prepare for war?"

"Yes..."

The waiter, 'ah', made a fuss.

"The fortress lord is coming."

A man in his early sixties with graying hair at his temples was coming, wearing a golden armor. He was followed by armed warriors in armor.

The fortress lord looked to be in his sixties, but with his copper-colored skin and sturdy muscles, he looked like a veteran of a hundred battles.

As the fortress lord entered the inn, he cupped his fists with a tragic face.

"To the chivalrous gentlemen who have rushed here at the news that the vicious group of the Demonic Cult is coveting Yuecheng, I, surnamed Yong, on behalf of the citizens of Yuecheng, thank you."

At that, a sturdy-looking middle-aged man among the Qinghai martial artists stood up and bowed.

"I greet the fortress lord. I am Pa Yeongwa. For the Demonic Cult to attack Yuecheng, even though it is a neutral territory... this is something that the Qinghai martial world cannot sit by and watch. Just you wait. More comrades will flock."

Although Pa Yeongwa spoke tragically with a hardened face, it somehow sounded hollow. The faces of those who were listening were dark.

It was the first time in a hundred years that a martial force of the Demonic Cult had come to Qinghai.

Nevertheless, the fear of the Demonic Cult was widespread. Since it was geographically close, it was more vivid than what the people of the Central Plains felt.

The Demonic Cult, which had settled in the South Heavenly Mountains, was like a small kingdom. With over a hundred thousand people, including the twelve guardian families, living in groups, it was worthy of being called so. Although there were constant disputes between the various tribes in Xinjiang and Qinghai, no force tried to be on bad terms with the Demonic Cult.

"Oh... the 'Shaking Wind Twin Sabers' Great Hero Pa! I have heard of your great name for a long time, but this is the first time I have met you. I am reassured that Great Hero Pa has stepped forward."

As Fortress Lord Yong was cupping his fists towards Pa Yeongwa, someone from one side said, "But, fortress lord... why on earth is the 'Blood Wind Squad' coming all the way down to Yuecheng? Do you know the reason?"

When everyone looked, it was a skinny old man. He had his disheveled hair tied up like a Taoist, but with his shabby appearance, he was someone no one had paid attention to.

Fortress Lord Yong also tried to pass it over lightly.

"Who can know their true intentions?"

But the old man was stubborn.

"By any chance... does the fortress lord have a treasure that they are aiming for?"

"What does that mean! Old man, who on earth are you?"

When Fortress Lord Yong answered with a displeased face, the old man, 'heu-heu', let out a laugh.

"There must be a reason why the 'Blood Wind Squad' came all the way to Yuecheng. The fortress lord knows, doesn't he?"

Everyone's gaze turned towards the old man. Since he was a person who was facing the fortress lord of Yuecheng, they were curious about his background.

The old man's party was four in total, and they were all different.

Opposite him was a middle-aged beauty wearing a palace dress, and next to her was a middle-aged scholar with an ordinary impression. Next to the old man was a man who looked to be in his mid-thirties, drinking alcohol without a word, and with no expression on his face, he exuded a cold feeling.

'It was because of them.'

Baekji seemed to know the reason why there was a tense atmosphere in the inn. The atmosphere of the four was different from the others, and a heterogeneous energy flowed.

Fortress Lord Yong also seemed to have noticed this, and his eyes narrowed.

"You... are not from Qinghai."

The middle-aged scholar stood up and said, "Fortress Lord Yong, aren't all under the four seas comrades? There is no need to distinguish by region of origin. This body is originally from the distant Zhejiang."

The scholar looked around the audience and then said in a clear voice, "I understand your chivalry well, but if the 'Blood Wind Squad' comes, it will become a sea of corpses and a mountain of blood in an instant. They are really..."

The scholar shook his head.

"They are a wind that brings blood, just like their name. It's not something that can be stopped with a few people here..."

Pa Yeongwa shouted indignantly, "What does that mean? Are you telling our Qinghai martial world to kneel before the Demonic Cult?"

"Who said to do that? I said to first avoid the sudden shower. First, let's find out the purpose of the 'Blood Wind Squad's' coming."

As the scholar spoke, he watched Fortress Lord Yong. Fortress Lord Yong, as if he had realized something, flinched and then shouted, "The Demonic Cult! You brats are Demonic Cult members! How dare a Demonic Cult member be in Yuecheng..."

At the words 'Demonic Cult member', Baekji, was surprised and dropped the food he was eating.

The Demonic Cult?

He had not known that he would meet a Demonic Cult member as soon as he entered Qinghai.

(End of Chapter)