Little Demon Reversion to Youth

Chapter 58

The pale moonlight illuminated the road as Wu Ping ran, his heart heavy.

'Do I really have to do this? To a man who is leaving everything behind.'

Mei Zhongjun had ordered him to chase after Yang Jongu, who was leaving, and kill him.

As the general manager of the Yang Merchant Guild, Wu Ping had worked with Yang Jongu for a long time. Even though he knew that he was playing the role of a spy under Mei Zhongjun's orders, Yang Jongu had treated him without prejudice.

Since he was on his way to kill such a man, his mind was complicated.

'Uncle, how long do I have to act as a trusted subordinate of the Mei family?'

As far as he knew, when the Meixian Fang was first established, Mei Zhongjun and Wu Tai were on equal footing as sworn brothers. But as time passed, Mei Zhongjun had unknowingly become the master's family, and Wu Tai had been demoted to a subordinate family.

The fortunate thing was that the Mei family had few descendants. Both Mei Zhongjun and Mae Yeoncheong had only one daughter. If Wu Zhanping of the Wu family married Yang Zhaoling, both the Meixian Fang and the Yang Merchant Guild would eventually belong to the Wu family.

He had thought he would take on the dirty work until then, but he was reluctant to kill Yang Jongu. It wasn't because Wu Ping himself was a good person.

There was the affection of having eaten from the same pot for a long time.

The things he had experienced while growing the merchant guild with Yang Jongu flashed through his mind.

"...?"

The warrior dressed as a bandit, who was leading the way, stopped.

On the moonlit hill, Yang Jongu stood, holding a sword.

The two warriors in the lead drew their swords.

Wu Ping said, "When did you learn to wield a sword?"

"I always thought a day like this might come. Even if I die, I should have a companion, shouldn't I?"

Wu Ping thought it was rather fortunate that Yang Jongu was holding a sword. It was more comfortable than killing a man who was not even armed.

"What are you doing?"

Wu Ping said to the warriors.

The warriors rushed in.

Chae-chaeng!

Swish!

Wu Ping's eyes widened.

"Keok!"

"Keuk!"

Yang Jongu's sword was surprisingly nimble. The warriors, who had underestimated him because of his awkward stance, could not avoid the sharply stabbing sword.

They were defeated in an instant.

"You had a move."

"Hehe. It's a life-saving secret art that I bought with a considerable amount of money. Does it look useful?"

"It's good. But it won't work on me."

"I know. How could I not know your skill?"

Wu Ping drew his sword.

Yang Jongu silently raised his sword.

Wu Ping rushed in and swung his sword. The moonlight flashed along the blade.

Chae-chae-aeng!

Clang!

Since Wu Ping could not make a decision, the fight dragged on.

As Yang Jongu grew weaker, his sword eventually became limp. Although he had learned an internal energy cultivation method for his health, it was not enough to face Wu Ping.

Wu Ping, who had been carelessly striking Yang Jongu's sword, made a decision.

He thrust his left shoulder into Yang Jongu's sword, which was coming down diagonally.

Swish!

Although he had raised his protective energy, he could not avoid his flesh being cut.

Clang!

Then, when he struck the sword up, Yang Jongu's sword flew out of his grasp and landed far away.

Wu Ping's sword stopped.

Yang Jongu looked at Wu Ping with a puzzled eye.

"Go. I will say that you are dead. Change your name and live the rest of your life in hiding, whether you go to a mountain village or the seaside. If your name is ever heard, then I will come and kill you."

Wu Ping turned away.

He himself didn't know why he had made such a decision.

It was not clear whether it was because of his affection for Yang Jongu or his rebellious spirit against Mei Zhongjun.

Wu Ping returned that way and said that Yang Jongu had been hiding his martial arts, and because he had launched a surprise attack, two warriors had died and he himself had been injured, but in the end, he had killed him and had thrown him off a cliff.

* * *

"Is that true?"

Wu Ping was kneeling in front of Yang Soryeong.

Baekji had run all the way to the Yang Merchant Guild overnight and had interrogated Wu Ping, and when he had said something unexpected, he had brought him.

Wu Ping was out of his mind.

Although he had prided himself on being a master, his soul had left him while he was being carried, tucked under Baekji's arm.

He didn't know how many times he had jumped down from a dizzying cliff.

Each time, his heart had sunk.

When he had jumped between cliffs, he had even wet himself. Because of that, he had been hit by Baekji for smelling.

He had only been able to calm down after being brought before Yang Soryeong.

Wu Ping confessed everything about his matter with Yang Jongu.

'If I had killed Yang Jongu then...'

He would have died in this place.

As he was inwardly relieved, Baekji said, "I can't believe everything. He might be lying to save his life."

"No. It's true. How could I have killed Guild Master Yang after spending so many years with him? I may not be a good brat, but I am not a man who does not know humanity."

"Shut up. Until we know Guild Master Yang's whereabouts, you will stay here. The position of forest keeper happens to be vacant."

When a hope that her father was not dead arose, Yang Soryeong's face brightened.

She was grateful to Baekji. To have run such a long distance overnight to find out news of her father.

Senior Oh couldn't believe it. How could he believe that he had traveled a distance that would take three days even on horseback, running day and night, in just one day and night?

"It's possible if you go in a straight line."

Ajok answered with sparkling eyes.

He had seen Baekji's martial prowess with his own two eyes. He realized that the path to success was not the righteous path, but a path to stand tall in the martial world as an absolute master had been opened.

Ajok's dream had risen a notch higher.

'An absolute master.'

An existence beyond the heavens, revered by all.

'I can do it too.'

Jang Sam was happier than anything that Yang Soryeong had regained her composure.

"As expected, our master is the best."

* * *

After a big incident had passed, there were one or two things to clean up.

Nangong Zhao contacted the Sichuan branch of the Martial Alliance and urgently requested support.

Of the thirty members of the Swift Wind Brigade, twelve had survived. Among them, seven were seriously injured. Only five, including Zhang Li, were able to move.

Ajok called the young men from Zhaojia County and had them carry the bodies of the Blood Sect members to a distant field and bury them.

When the rough cleanup was over, Baekji called everyone together.

"You all did well this time."

When the words 'did well' came out of Baekji's mouth, everyone's face brightened.

"But it's still a long way to go."

The atmosphere sank.

"For a few rotten brats to come and for things to get to this state. At this rate, there's no point in teaching."

Baekji looked at everyone. They were covered in bandages here and there from large and small injuries.

"How much medicinal herbs have I fed you in the meantime? Do you know how much thought I put into creating the martial arts? To be defeated by brats like that is to insult me. Strictly speaking, it corresponds to the crime of deceiving the master and destroying the ancestors."

'So it can be connected like that.'

Senior Oh was inwardly impressed.

"I will give you a choice. You can put down your swords at this moment. Forget martial arts and live an ordinary life. Then you might be able to enjoy a long life."

"..."

"If you continue to hold a sword, train to death. If you can't defeat your opponent, you will die on the spot. That is the fate of one who holds a sword. If you don't want to die, you have no choice but to train to death. In your time, you have to do that."

Although the words 'in your time, you have to do that' from the young Baekji were strange, no one objected.

"What will you do?"

"I will train."

"I want to train."

After a life-and-death battle, everyone had realized something.

They had resented Baekji for usually pushing them hard, but if it hadn't been for that training, some of them would have died.

At Baekji's words, everyone answered with determination.

"Alright. That's settled."

Baekji said to Yang Soryeong, "Master, let's change the nameplate."

Yang Soryeong nodded.

"Yes, I was going to do that too. The White Mountain Sect is a martial sect. I want to create a merchant guild."

"A merchant guild?"

"We're going to be a merchant guild?"

Everyone said a word. Why a merchant guild all of a sudden?

"Training in martial arts doesn't produce food. We have to earn money. I don't like receiving tribute from here and there like the White Mountain Sect."

"It's not tribute, it's protection money."

"It's the same thing. You have to earn what goes into your own mouth. Living off others' backs is being a parasite."

Baekji nodded.

"Let's do that. Whether we have a merchant guild, an escort agency, or farm, as long as we train, it's fine."

"Then will it be the 'White Mountain Merchant Guild'?"

"No! The name 'White Mountain' is unlucky. That's why even the Blood Sect brats are attracted."

Baekji shook his head.

Yang Soryeong said, "How about the 'Baekji Merchant Guild'?"

"What's that? That's my name. No."

"How about the 'Great Hero Merchant Guild'?"

"Do you want to be hit?"

Yang Soryeong, Baekji, and the disciples pondered.

Finally, Baekji said, "We are the 'Yang-Bai Sect', aren't we?"

"Were we?"

"Even if it's a secret sect, to not even know the name of your sect. Deceiving the master..."

Ajok said hurriedly, "I know. Jang Sam was just pretending not to know. It's a secret, isn't it?"

"...You really knew?"

"Yes."

Jang Sam answered quickly, rubbing the back of his neck.

Jang Sam's head worked that much.

"Alright. Then let's call it the 'Yang-Bai Merchant Sect'. It should have a bit of a martial sect feel to it."

When Baekji made a decision, that was the end of it.

Ajok ran to Zhaojia County and had a large nameplate carved.

Nangong Zhao and Quan Bai looked up at the newly hung nameplate.

"Yang-Bai Merchant Sect? Is it a martial sect or a merchant guild?"

Quan Bai muttered.

"The White Mountain Sect was still a martial sect that had its name on the Martial Alliance's list, but I don't know if it's okay to change it like this."

"With Bai Renguang in that state and his son missing, who would say anything? The hegemon of northern Sichuan has been destroyed in an instant."

As the two were talking, a hearty laugh was heard from behind.

"Hahaha. You two were here."

Senior Oh appeared.

When Quan Bai hurriedly tried to get away, Senior Oh grabbed his sleeve.

"Our sect is recruiting warriors, and to ensure fairness, we have decided to invite Brother Quan as a judge."

"Who decided that!"

"It is the Honored One's will. He said to bring you. He said that there is no one to take on the role other than Brother Quan, who has outstanding knowledge and is well-versed in the affairs of the martial world."

"..."

"Since it is the will of the Honored One Bai, why don't you at least listen?"

Nangong Zhao was amused that the slippery opportunist, Quan Bai, was cornered.

"Chief Investigator Nangong is also to come."

"Me too?"

"He said that if the chief investigator of the Martial Alliance becomes a judge, it would be an unparalleled honor for the Yang-Bai Merchant Sect."

"The identity of a chief investigator is a secret. I cannot carelessly appear in a public setting."

"He said he knew that and had prepared a curtain. He said you can judge from behind the curtain."

"Even that?"

The two felt the grip of Baekji's hand tightening.

They had no choice but to follow Senior Oh.

The nameplate of the White Hall Great Light had been changed to the 'Yang-Bai Hall'.

In the spacious main hall of the Yang-Bai Hall, Baekji was sitting opposite Tie Yantai.

"...!"

Quan Bai flinched for a moment upon seeing Tie Yantai.

He had guessed his identity, and if he was right, the Martial Alliance could be turned upside down.

Tie Yantai was also uncomfortable with Quan Bai.

Having heard that Quan Bai had rushed to support Nangong Zhao, he knew that he was a master holding a key position in the Martial Alliance.

Although his martial prowess was far below his own, since the Martial Alliance swarmed like a hive of bees, he could not help but be careful.

The Martial Alliance and the Demonic Cult.

Although many had died in the 'Righteous-Demonic Great War' a hundred years ago, their descendants still had not forgotten that resentment.

When Quan Bai and Nangong Zhao sat down, Baekji said, "We need to select warriors who will be loyal to the Yang-Bai Merchant Sect, so you have to take on the role of judges."

"Isn't the judging supposed to be done by someone from within the sect?"

"We have to ensure fairness. I want to select only first-rate warriors. About two hundred?"

"Two hundred? First-rate warriors?"

Quan Bai's mouth fell open.

Two hundred first-rate warriors was a martial force that surpassed a mid-sized sect.

It was difficult to find a place with such a force, unless it was one of the Five Great Families.

'Where can we find that many first-rate warriors?'

Was a first-rate warrior called first-rate for nothing?

If you could just pick them up off the street, they wouldn't be first-rate.

"Two hundred first-rate warriors? How do you plan to afford that?"

"Money? We have to earn money. Don't you know we are the Yang-Bai Merchant Sect? We will earn a lot."

"Although the offer is an honor, I don't think I can do it."

"Huh? You can't?"

"It will take more than a year to recruit two hundred first-rate warriors. I don't have that much time to stay."

Baekji said with a dumbfounded expression, "Are you trying to get out of paying for your life?"

"Paying for my life? What do you mean?"

Baekji pointed his finger at Quan Bai and Nangong Zhao.

"If it weren't for me, you, you, and the Martial Alliance members... how many were there, three? You would all be dead. You owe me fifteen lives. Let's be accurate with the calculation."

Quan Bai was at a loss for words.

Although he had come to save Nangong Zhao, in a way, he had also come to help the White Mountain Sect.

But now, he was being told to pay for his life, saying that he had saved him.

"Don't we have to talk about something that is realistically possible? How can we get two hundred first-rate warriors..."

"Don't worry. There are many applicants. Since we said we would give a generous monthly salary, they will flock from all directions."

"...?"

When Bai Renguang was captured and the White Mountain Sect was broken, the White Temple Brigade, the Great Light Brigade, and the White Mountain Brigade were disbanded.

Yu Mungwang, who had been seriously injured, was missing, and the martial artists who had lost their leadership were wandering around the vicinity of Zhaojia County.

When the Yang-Bai Sect announced that they were recruiting warriors, a considerable number applied.

"If they are from the White Mountain Sect, they will not have good feelings towards the Yang-Bai Merchant Sect. They might come as spies."

Nangong Zhao said.

"We have to sort out those brats. What is the job of a judge? To sort out the brats who come with other intentions, the brats with no skill. That's what judging is for."

Baekji summed it up simply.

(End of Chapter)