Little Demon Reversion to Youth

Chapter 59

Two hundred first-rate warriors.

Baekji's ambitious dream faced difficulties from the start.

First of all, the standard that Baekji had set was too high. To be called first-rate, one had to be at a level where they could at least use sword energy.

It would have been possible with ten or so, but it was impossible to fill two hundred with first-rate warriors.

"You have to make sense. Why would a brat who knows how to use sword energy come to a sect that has just been established?"

"Whether it's a sect or a merchant guild... its identity is unclear, so who would apply?"

Quan Bai, who was sitting on the judging panel, grumbled incessantly.

"If you're going to do the final interview, why did you set us up?"

When he had passed them after a perfunctory review to fill the numbers, Baekji had failed them in the final interview.

Of course, the reason was that their skills were not up to par.

Although over a hundred former White Mountain Sect members had applied, only ten had passed.

They were the former squad leaders of the White Mountain Sect.

Because of the rumor that they had been attacked by the Blood Sect, the number of applicants was gradually decreasing.

Although money was good, life came first.

There was no martial artist with the guts to apply to a sect that had become the target of the Blood Sect.

On a day when not a single applicant came.

Baekji called an emergency meeting.

"Why is there no progress?"

Quan Bai answered bluntly.

"What's the point of judging and passing them? You fail them all."

"Their skills are not good enough."

"They are from the White Mountain Sect. They were good enough before, but not now?"

"Now it's the Yang-Bai Merchant Sect."

"That's enough for a martial force..."

Baekji cut off Quan Bai's words.

"I can't believe they unified northern Sichuan with just those brats. I think they're brats trying to get a job under false pretenses. Who knows if those brats were really White Mountain Sect members?"

'Why wouldn't there be?'

Their identities could be easily found out by asking the White Mountain Sect squad leaders who had passed. But it was true that their skills were not what Baekji wanted.

Quan Bai retorted, "A martial force is not all of a sect's power. The White Mountain Sect was also able to wield its power because of Bai Renguang, Mo Dahou, and Hu Yeonjo. If there is a master, you don't have to insist on first-rate."

"Those brats weren't that great either."

"That's how the Honored One sees it, but Bai Renguang is one of the top one hundred masters."

"If we can make that brat turn over a new leaf and use him, he might be useful... can we make him turn over a new leaf?"

"Honored One Bai!"

When Bai Renguang's story came up, Nangong Zhao interjected.

"The alliance is urging me to return. I really have to go now."

"No. I still have something to ask Bai Renguang."

Although Nangong Zhao wanted to return to the alliance, Baekji was dragging his feet and not handing over Bai Renguang.

Baekji said, "Ah, you're really frustrating people. You have to show sincerity. Sincerity! Doesn't the martial world know about commercial ethics? A life for a life. If it were me, I would have called some brats I know. I don't really care about their background. As long as they have skill."

"!"

"...?"

Baekji looked up at the ceiling and sighed.

"I don't care if they're former Demonic Cult members or Martial Alliance members. Truthfulness and skill. That's all that's needed. It's really hard to find talented people."

"...!"

"......!"

The gazes of Quan Bai and Nangong Zhao met. Then, the gazes of Tie Yantai and Quan Bai clashed.

They had realized what Baekji was saying.

"Sigh. It's a headache. The affairs of a sect are this complicated. I'm going to go out for a bit, so try to come up with a plan."

Baekji stealthily left his seat.

Tie Yantai stood up abruptly and went out. He had a meaningful smile on his lips.

The anxious Quan Bai sent a telepathic message to Nangong Zhao.

-He's telling us to bring out the Martial Alliance's warriors, right? Right?

-It seems so. It's nonsense.

-Tie Guang seems to have a thought.

Tie Yantai was still using the alias 'Tie Guang'.

-Surely not?

Quan Bai and Nangong Zhao were almost certain that Tie Yantai was a Demonic Cult member.

A master of unknown origin with martial prowess estimated to be at the Transformation realm.

If even the knowledgeable Quan Bai didn't know, it was not unreasonable to assume that he had come from the Heavenly Mountains where the Demonic Cult was located.

-What happens if they send warriors from that side?

-The Yang-Bai Merchant Sect...

Nangong Zhao couldn't finish his sentence.

It had been a hundred years since the Demonic Cult had advanced into the Central Plains.

A big fight had broken out, and the Central Plains martial world had been devastated.

The so-called 'Righteous-Demonic Great War'.

After that, thanks to the Demonic Cult being cooped up in the Heavenly Mountains for a hundred years, peace had continued in the martial world.

But.

If two hundred Demonic Cult members were stationed at the Yang-Bai Merchant Sect?

Northern Sichuan could fall to the Demonic Cult.

Quan Bai's forehead grew hot.

-This is a big problem. Report to the alliance at once and have them dispatch warriors.

-This is not a matter that the military affairs department can decide.

-I will report to the Martial Alliance Leader's office, so first, have them select the personnel. Exclude the great sects and the great families, and select people from mid-sized sects with clear backgrounds.

-Exclude the great sects and the great families?

-It will get noisy if those brats are involved.

-I am from the Nangong family. I am deeply regretful of the statement that ostracizes the great families.

-Shut up. We're in a hurry right now!

Nangong Zhao went out in a hurry.

At that time, Tie Yantai had contacted the main headquarters and had told them to select and send two hundred masters.

Ten days later, the applicants overflowed.

Quan Bai and Tie Yantai were engaged in a subtle war of nerves.

Quan Bai tried to accept the Martial Alliance members and reject the Demonic Cult members in any way possible. Tie Yantai, of course, had the opposite position.

Finally, Quan Bai suggested that they decide by a martial arts contest.

"What is as fair as a martial arts contest?"

"Hmph!"

Tie Yantai snorted. He was confident in a martial arts contest.

"I will draw up the tournament bracket."

"Do as you please."

While Quan Bai was drawing up the tournament bracket, the applicants were resting, leaning against the wall of the spacious training ground.

Baekji passed by and saw this.

"What are you doing? Why aren't you judging?"

"There are many applicants, so we have to decide by a martial arts contest."

"They'll get hurt if they brandish their swords."

"It is a common occurrence for a martial artist to be injured during a martial arts contest."

Baekji looked at the tournament bracket and had a good idea.

"I will decide the opponents for the martial arts contest."

Baekji called Ajok, Senior Oh, Jang Sam, and the Seven Plums.

After recovering from their injuries from the Blood Sect's invasion, they were all training whenever they had a chance. It was understandable, as the claws of the god of death had grazed their necks.

"You guys have to work a little."

Baekji had his disciples, Ajok and the others, and the Seven Plums stand in the middle of the training ground.

"Call the applicants in order."

When Quan Bai called the applicants, Baekji assigned them opponents.

Baekji assigned two to Ajok, Senior Oh, and Jang Sam, and one to each of the Seven Plums.

The opportunity to have a martial arts contest with a first-rate warrior was rare.

"Hmph!"

"This is... isn't she a maid?"

The applicants were dumbfounded.

Although they had looked down on Ajok and the others, they were greatly surprised when the martial arts contest began and had to use all their strength.

Ajok, Senior Oh, and Jang Sam, who were filled with malice from the harsh training, fought like venomous snakes.

Since it was not a martial arts contest but a real life-or-death battle, the applicants could not be careless.

Although the Seven Plums had entered the martial arts at the same time, they were not enough to face a first-rate warrior.

Although they had the 'Seven Plums Sword Formation' when they had faced the Blood Sect members, since a martial arts contest had to be fought with individual skill, it was so.

Above all, their internal energy and experience were lacking.

Still, they fought tenaciously and were not pushed back.

"Should I go and dig up more medicinal herbs?"

Baekji, watching the Seven Plums' martial arts contest, thought of the medicinal herbs that had been looted by True Man Changshan.

'That damn medicinal herb thief...'

Baekji watched the ten martial arts contests that were taking place and, when a dangerous moment came, threw a coin to end the contest.

It was amazing how he could watch all ten places and throw a coin at the right moment to end the fight.

Ajok and the others had to continuously fight new opponents.

By the time evening came, they didn't even have the strength to stand.

Still, no one complained.

It was because they knew why Baekji had arranged this opportunity.

When the martial arts contest was over, Baekji decided whether they passed or not.

Quan Bai, comparing the number of Martial Alliance members who had passed with the Demonic Cult members, suddenly realized something.

'The number of passers is similar.'

If Baekji selected a Martial Alliance member, the next time he would select a Demonic Cult member.

'Does he know?'

Although the Martial Alliance members and the Demonic Cult members were disguised as ordinary martial artists and were difficult to distinguish from the outside, Baekji picked them out as if with a pair of tweezers.

Looking at Tie Yantai's expression, it was clear that he was thinking the same thing. His eyeballs were busy counting the number of Demonic Cult members who had passed.

"That's it for today!"

When Baekji declared the end, Ajok and all the Seven Plums collapsed on the spot.

'You tough brats!'

Quan Bai clicked his tongue.

Ajok had fought four martial arts contests without rest against two first-rate warriors.

Even Quan Bai himself would have found it difficult.

"We've selected quite a few today. The next martial arts contest is in three days."

Baekji was in a good mood, having filled fifty spots in one day.

"The applicants have to wait a long time, so wouldn't it be better to do it tomorrow?"

When Quan Bai asked, Baekji pointed at the disciples who had collapsed on the training ground and said, "Look at their condition. If they overdo it, their muscles and bones will be damaged. If you want to move up the schedule, go and do 'acupressure and bloodletting'."

"Even if the Honored One's disciples don't step forward..."

"The standard has to be clear. Doesn't the same standard apply if the same person is the opponent?"

Baekji waved his hand and left.

Even Quan Bai, who had lived by his words for half his life, was at a loss for words in front of Baekji.

It seemed like a stretch, but it strangely seemed to make sense, and then it seemed like a stretch again.

Three days later, the martial arts contest was held again.

"They've changed in the meantime."

Quan Bai muttered.

Ajok and the others, who had rested well after the intense martial arts contest, had a different aura.

Unlike three days ago, when they were just full of malice, they had a certain composure.

The martial arts contest proceeded again.

Baekji assigned three to each of Ajok, Senior Oh, and Jang Sam.

"Isn't that too much? Three first-rate warriors can even catch a peak master."

"It's fine."

The Seven Plums also faced one each this time. But unlike three days ago, they were not pushed back one-sidedly.

They calmly struck the opponent's weapon and swung their swords.

Quan Bai felt something from the Seven Plums' sword technique.

He whispered to Nangong Zhao, "Doesn't the sword technique those women are using look familiar?"

As the chief investigator of the military affairs department, Nangong Zhao knew a lot about the martial arts of the various sects of the martial world.

He watched the Seven Plums' martial arts contest and nodded.

"It does. It reminds me of the Huashan sword technique. It's not the 'Plum Blossom Sword', but the overall flow and the feel of the forms seem similar."

Since the Seven Plums Sword Technique was the practical sword technique of Huashan, it was natural to feel that way.

"The Honored One said he taught the Seven Plums himself. Is there no possibility that he is from the Huashan Sect? You know a little about the Huashan Sect, right? I know there is someone from the Huashan Sect among the investigators."

"The masters of the Wind and Cloud Pavilion would know more about the masters of Huashan than I do. How can a mere investigator of the military affairs department follow the knowledge of a master of the Wind and Cloud Pavilion?"

"My, my. You're hitting me at a strange point."

"I'm sorry. Since we've been together recently, I keep thinking about the past."

"You're a man, but you're really petty. I apologized for the Akyang incident. I even risked my life to save you this time. Forget it."

"You are a senior by a long shot, so I should put aside my hurt feelings. But I can't help but be cautious as the memory of being stabbed in the back keeps coming up. And you know that the background of an investigator is a secret, right? I also don't know who is from where."

Nangong Zhao had no intention of being drawn into Quan Bai's scheme again.

Quan Bai had cunningly stimulated the opponent's curiosity, made them move, and then had watched from a step behind to get what he wanted.

It was so natural that the opponent didn't even feel that they were being manipulated.

Of course, he never revealed what he had found out.

It was a case of the monkey doing the tricks and the owner taking the money.

This time too, he had naturally raised doubts about the Seven Plums' sword technique and had tried to induce him to investigate the masters of Huashan.

While the two were whispering, the morning martial arts contest ended.

Ajok and the others, who had fought a fierce battle, collapsed on the training ground and rested.

"Let's eat lunch and do it again in the afternoon."

As Baekji was standing up, the main gate became noisy.

A newly selected warrior ran up and reported.

"What's wrong?"

"A man named Mo Dahou, the former White Temple Brigade leader of the White Mountain Sect, is causing a commotion, saying he wants to see the Honored One."

"Mo Dahou?"

(End of Chapter)