Little Demon Reversion to Youth

Chapter 22

Wu Ping and the Twin Swords of Meixian came to see Yang Soryeong.

"The Guild Master was concerned for the Young Miss's safety and made a request, so the Meixian Fang has specially sent two masters and a hundred-man martial force. These men are known by the moniker 'Twin Swords of Meixian' and are secular disciples of Huashan. They are of the same generation as the Sect Master."

The Twin Swords of Meixian looked at Yang Soryeong with sharp eyes.

'How can people's eyes be so sharp?'

Yang Soryeong trembled inwardly at the two men's gazes.

"I know Huashan to be a very famous sect. It is an honor to meet the masters of Huashan."

Yang Soryeong cupped her fists.

At that, a strange light flashed in the eyes of Wu Ping and the Twin Swords of Meixian.

It was unexpected for Yang Soryeong to use the martial world's form of greeting.

'So she's become the acting sect master and is now pretending to be a martial artist.'

Wu Ping thought to himself.

"However, I do not need a separate escort. You do not need to worry."

When Yang Soryeong politely refused, Wu Ping frowned.

"You were sent far away for marriage, and now that both Sect Master Bai and the Young Sect Master are seriously injured, the Guild Master's worries are immense. You must think not only of yourself but also of the Guild Master."

When Wu Ping used Yang Jongu as an excuse, Yang Soryeong said no more.

"Then I will speak with General Manager Ximen and let you know."

"I have already spoken with General Manager Ximen. The Young Miss need not worry and should just follow the words of the Twin Swords of Meixian."

"..."

From the beginning, Yang Soryeong's opinion was not important to Wu Ping.

In his eyes, Yang Soryeong was still just a young girl.

"You should know that. Then we will be on our way."

Wu Ping spoke as if giving a notice and left the Songhua Hall with the Twin Swords of Meixian.

'Something is strange.'

Yang Soryeong was no fool. She knew well that the Meixian Fang was Yang Jongu's wife's family.

There was no way Mae Yeoncheong would provide an escort for her.

"Master, what are you thinking so hard about?"

Baekji asked as he suddenly entered.

"General Manager Wu came from the main family."

"Really? Why does he keep coming and going?"

Baekji had no interest in Wu Ping.

"Where have you been? I haven't seen you all day."

"Yes. I went to the back mountain to dig up medicinal herbs."

After hearing from True Man Changshan that the medicinal herbs he had dug up were very precious, Baekji had gone to dig for more.

"But there were none."

"They're precious medicinal herbs because they're hard to find."

"I guess I'll have to search deeper in the mountains next time."

Yang Soryeong shook her head.

"For the time being, it would be best not to go outside the Songhua Hall as much as possible."

"Why?"

"It seems the White Mountain Sect and the Meixian Fang are going to fight."

"Really? Why?"

"It's not certain, but two masters and a hundred-man martial force came from the Meixian Fang."

"I see. But when do we eat dinner?"

Baekji answered perfunctorily. The White Mountain Sect and the Meixian Fang were not his concern.

"Sigh. You're only interested in eating."

"Eating is important."

Baekji nodded as if it were obvious.

Just then, Ajok and the others entered.

"Aww. I'm so hungry."

Jang Sam said, rubbing his stomach, which had become hollow after training all day.

"Let's go eat."

It had now become customary for the people of the Songhua Hall to sit around and eat together.

Baekji and Yang Soryeong sat down, and Bangbang came in and said, "The White Mountain Brigade has surrounded the Songhua Hall."

"It's good to have a lot of people protecting us."

Yang Soryeong muttered.

The news that Wu Ping had visited must have reached General Manager Ximen's ears.

If he had sent the White Mountain Brigade to surround them, it was as good as being under partial house arrest.

Zhong Jia brought out the food.

Baekji tore off a chicken leg, handed it to Yang Soryeong, and put the other one in his own mouth.

Baekji said while chewing on the chicken, "By the way, Master. If the White Mountain Sect and the Meixian Fang fight, whose side will you take?"

"Huh?"

"You're the acting sect master of the White Mountain Sect. Since you're the leader of the White Mountain Sect, should you take the lead and fight the Meixian Fang?"

"I have to stop them from fighting. The Meixian Fang is the one that backs the Yang Merchant Guild. They can't fight."

The maids of the Songhua Hall could not understand what the two were talking about.

But since Yang Soryeong was their superior, they could not carelessly interrupt.

Ajok, Senior Oh, and Jang Sam were not like that.

"Master, are the White Mountain Sect and the Meixian Fang going to fight?"

"It seems so."

"Then what do we do?"

Senior Oh asked, turning pale. The oldest, Senior Oh, was the most timid.

"What do you mean, what do we do? We have to take the lead and fight. That's why we learned martial arts."

At Baekji's words, Yang Soryeong was horrified.

"No. We have to stop this fight."

"I understand your intentions, Grandmaster. But if the White Mountain Sect or the Meixian Fang have made up their minds, will they listen to us?"

Ajok was the most realistic of them all. Ajok added with a serious expression, "The White Mountain Sect will become a sea of blood."

"..."

"..."

At the words 'sea of blood', a moment of silence fell.

If the renowned sects from Shaanxi and Sichuan were to fight properly, many people would die.

Baekji said, "That can't happen. I'll have to tell them to go out and fight."

"Aish. Master. Will they listen to us?"

Ajok raised his voice as if frustrated.

"The acting sect master is speaking, so why wouldn't they listen?"

Baekji said, as if questioning why he was asking such an obvious thing.

The frustrated Ajok put his hand to his forehead and fell backward.

'What should I do with a grandmaster and a master who don't know the ways of the world?'

* * *

In the depths of the White Mountain Sect, General Manager Ximen and the three martial force leaders gathered.

They had gathered to deal with the Meixian Fang's intentions, but there was no particular solution.

The Twin Swords of Meixian did not come out of their quarters, but they called for servants and tormented them by ordering them to do this and that.

"It seems they are determined to die."

Hu Yeonjo said.

"The fame of the Twin Swords of Meixian may be considerable, but it only works in Shaanxi. If they try to act up in Sichuan, they'll get a big surprise."

As Hu Yeonjo spoke, he observed Mo Dahou and General Manager Ximen. He hoped they would agree with his words, but the two were silent.

Wu Ping had returned immediately, leaving only the Twin Swords of Meixian. In a way, it was as if only the two of them were left in enemy territory.

"It won't be that simple. The two of them can't handle the White Mountain Sect, but they are here because they are confident they can escape with their lives. If we attack, it will be as good as a war with the Meixian Fang."

General Manager Ximen said.

"So you're saying we should just watch them run wild?"

"If you really don't like it, why don't you test them, Brigade Leader Hu?"

"Hmph! You don't think I can't handle them, do you?"

"..."

When General Manager Ximen was silent, Hu Yeonjo flared up.

"What does your silence mean?"

"It means nothing. Let's just watch and see how the Meixian Fang will act first. I have something to do, so I must be going."

General Manager Ximen rose from his seat.

They dispersed without any particular gain.

When General Manager Ximen came to his office, Mo Dahou followed.

"Do you have something to say?"

Mo Dahou sat down in front of General Manager Ximen's desk and asked.

"General Manager Ximen, let me ask you frankly. What do you want?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Do you think I don't know you, General Manager Ximen? If what you want is money, why don't you take a reasonable amount and leave?"

General Manager Ximen's face turned bright red.

"Are you insulting me now?"

Mo Dahou smiled slyly.

"This is for our mutual benefit. Frankly, what do you plan to do by putting a girl who doesn't even know martial arts forward as the acting sect master? If this goes on, it's clear she'll be eaten up by the Meixian Fang."

"Brigade Leader Mo!"

General Manager Ximen shot up.

Mo Dahou sighed and said in a placating tone, "I didn't say you have no loyalty to Sect Master Bai. But since things have come to this, shouldn't we each look out for ourselves?"

At the subtle tone, General Manager Ximen's heart was almost swayed.

But he too knew well what kind of person Mo Dahou was. If he was swayed like this and gave him an opening, he would strike immediately.

General Manager Ximen sighed and said, "I am not unaware of Brigade Leader Mo's desire to protect the White Mountain Sect. However, if Sect Master Bai had passed away, it would be one thing, but since he is still alive, if Brigade Leader Mo were to ascend to the position of sect master, how many people would truly follow you? The Great Light Brigade Leader and the White Mountain Brigade Leader would immediately oppose it. Then it would only be a matter of time before the White Mountain Sect splits into three. If that happens, we will be eaten up not by the Meixian Fang, but by our enemies in Sichuan first."

"Hoho. If that is General Manager Ximen's intention."

Mo Dahou said as he stood up.

"Did you say the tribute payments are not coming in properly? I will have my subordinates go and collect them directly."

At Mo Dahou's words, General Manager Ximen's face turned like a rotten apple.

His plan to take the tribute payments and leave had been disrupted.

"And I will protect the safety of General Manager Ximen, who is protecting the White Mountain Sect with such a loyal heart."

"No, what is that..."

"There is no need to refuse. I have already assigned a squad to General Manager Ximen's residence and office, so do not worry and go about your work."

"What? Are you not trusting me now? The warriors of the General Manager's office are clearly here..."

"What are you talking about? Isn't it the General Manager who is controlling the White Mountain Sect with the acting sect master on his back? Since you are such an important person, it is only natural that your escort should be thorough."

Mo Dahou showed a sly smile again and left the office.

"That, that bastard."

General Manager Ximen slumped down in his chair.

'I should have just left. Just...'

It was too late for regrets. Now that Mo Dahou was suspicious, it had become difficult to leave.

* * *

"To learn Fire Skill, you have to build up your internal energy first. This is the best for building internal energy."

Baekji told Zhong Jia to stand in a squatting position and taught him an internal energy heart method.

The posture, with both feet turned inward and slightly squatting, was extremely difficult.

"It's called 'Fire Essence Stance'. Your whole body is getting hot, isn't it?"

Zhong Jia said, groaning.

"Other people sit down to build their internal energy."

"Zhong Jia, you are old. If you learn normally, you will only be able to use Fire Skill after you are sixty. You have to learn the fast way."

Although Zhong Jia was skeptical, he had no choice but to follow.

The maids of the Songhua Hall gathered. Gayang stepped forward as the representative and cautiously asked Baekji, "By any chance, can we learn martial arts too?"

It was unheard of for maids to learn martial arts. But since Zhong Jia was a cook and Ajok and the others were also servants, and he had taken them as disciples, they thought, 'why not us?'.

If they learned martial arts, they could change their status.

"What will you do with martial arts?"

"So we can better assist the Young Miss."

"Is that so? That seems plausible. If the master is in danger, can you throw your body to block the enemy?"

"What?"

"I'm asking if you can die for the master."

Gayang couldn't answer right away, but Sogo, who had come with her, stepped forward and said, "Yes. I will protect the Young Miss even if it means throwing away my life."

"Really? Then I'll teach you."

When Baekji readily agreed, Gayang and the others also said, "Me too."

"I'll do anything for the Young Miss too."

When the maids pledged their loyalty, Baekji said with a pleased face, "Good. Good."

Baekji thought for a moment and then said, "I'll teach you swordsmanship."

Baekji recalled the Seven Plum Sword Technique of Huashan that he had seen in Bai Renguang's library.

The Seven Plum Sword Technique was an excellent sword technique in itself, but its power increased greatly when seven people attacked together.

Baekji even dragged the reluctant Bangbang over.

He was planning to teach the Seven Plum Sword Technique to Bangbang and the six maids.

"This is a very profound sword technique, so you have to build a strong foundation. You all come here and get into position."

The maids stood behind Zhong Jia.

"First, horse stance!"

The foundation of all martial arts is the horse stance.

Before long, the maids regretted volunteering to learn martial arts.

But it was already too late.

"Stand properly!"

Baekji glared, and when Sogo tried to slack off, he struck her back with the bamboo staff.

"Aack!"

Sogo was in so much pain that her eyes almost popped out.

"You have to train with the determination to die. Even then, it's uncertain whether you'll even reach the threshold of the first-rate."

"I, upon second thought, I don't think martial arts suits my aptitude."

The youngest, Zhongmei, said with a mournful face.

"No? You're doing the best."

At Baekji's words, Zhongmei gained strength.

Zhongmei's close friend, Zhuhua, said with teary eyes, "I really don't think I can."

"There's no backing out. Since you all decided to give your lives for the master, it's either die here or die later."

"I never said I would do that."

Bangbang said.

"Your fate was already decided when you came here from the Yang estate. You and Master Yang are one in body and soul."

"Where did that come from? 'One in body and soul' is a phrase used between a husband and wife."

"Not necessarily. The master is training, so should the maid be playing around? You're talking a lot, so you must be able to handle it."

"Ah, no. I'll do it. I feel like I'm going to die right now. I'll do it."

"Yes. You won't die from training. Don't be a baby."

Baekji said coldly.

That evening, Zhong Jia and the maids of the Songhua Hall had to walk around stiffly.

"Kehehe. To be in that state after just that much? If they go up the mountain for special training, they'll die."

Ajok and the others snickered, looking at the maids of the Songhua Hall and Zhong Jia.

"Why are you playing around? Come here."

Seeing them, Baekji gestured.

"Playing? We were just taking a short break after training all this time."

"Really? Shall we see how much you've improved?"

Baekji picked up the bamboo staff.

"Master. It's almost time for dinner..."

"Zhong Jia just went into the kitchen. We have a little time, don't we? It will only take a moment."

In that short moment, Ajok, Senior Oh, and Jang Sam were beaten to a pulp.

While Zhong Jia and the maids of the Songhua Hall walked around stiffly, Ajok and the others had to walk, trembling and staggering.

(End of Chapter)