Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Reformation and Welcoming Guests
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Baek Mu-ryang frowned slightly.
"Though we've accepted Pavilion Lord Baek Ik's request and recognized them as family retainers, that method doesn't seem like a good one."
Yang-hui nodded in agreement. The Black Path overlords weren't called that for nothing.
Reform them and put them to use? Easier said than done.
They had forsaken honest work to prey on others' backs. Rotten to the core.
Gu-ak was an exception, but most were hopeless from birth.
To turn such people into members of a White Path sect would require someone who understood the Black Path's inner workings intimately—someone to manage them tirelessly, without a single gap, every minute of every hour.
Hm? And it just so happened that there was a perfect candidate right in front of them.
"There's a saying: 'Opportunities are hard to seize and easy to lose.'"
"Times are difficult to gain and simple to squander. What are you driving at?"
"Our clan faces two such moments right now. An opportunity, but also a crisis."
The chance for revival brought by the Black Path overlords—and the emerging crisis of suppression.
To not let either slip away, they had to grow their numbers somehow.
"You've bestowed the title of 'One Day, One Ally' on Pavilion Lord Baek Ik. What if we expanded that a bit?"
To put it simply: Offer a chance at redemption to those weary of the Black Path, just like Gu-ak.
Through that, employ the ploy of using the enemy to control the enemy—no, using black to rule black—and rapidly swell their ranks.
"The recent Black Path dispute let us feel, down to our bones, the suffering those overlords inflict on the common folk."
"Yes. We know it all too well."
"That's our justification. It's carrying out righteous aid through the scheme of using black to rule black."
"But how many Black Path curs would follow some grand ideal?"
Gu-ak answered in Yang-hui's place.
"Clan Leader, I think quite a few."
"Hm?"
"Even without asking, plenty have come seeking this old Gu out—including quite a number from my old Crimson Gang subordinates."
The Black Path dispute, dragging on for months, had left even the overlords with deep scars.
Endless battles. Constant terror and unease, even while eating or sleeping.
"They're terrified to walk the Black Path any longer. The justification Youngest Brother mentioned would let them don White Path garb."
"Is that right, Hui?"
"Brother Gu has pierced right through my intentions."
"Selecting and training those sorts could let us form a combat unit in short order."
After a moment's contemplation, Baek Mu-ryang turned to Gu-ak.
"Pavilion Lord Baek Ik. Can you make it happen?"
"If you command it, I'll see it done."
"Very well. From now on, we'll call Pavilion Lord Baek Ik the Reformation Pavilion Lord. Take in Black Path overlords under your command, train them, and form the Reformation Unit."
"Understood!"
Yang-hui added his piece.
"Brother Gu surely has his own plans, but hear this one thing. In my view, Black Path overlords aren't tamed with three entreaties and three bribes—they need seven beatings and seven golds."
In plain terms: Kind words don't work; the stick does.
As a former Black Path overlord himself, the words left Gu-ak feeling a touch uneasy.
But soon enough, he grinned ferociously.
"Worry not, little brother. No one knows it better than I."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Baek Clan Manor's central training ground. Yang-hui sat in lotus position with his two younger siblings.
"Both of you, commit this to memory. Harmonious Heaven Principle Origin Art. The subtle principle of harmonizing with heaven and earth to enrich the origin."
The Heaven-Covering 108 Swords could only be learned after mastering the Heaven-Covering Three Swords.
Without that foundation, one couldn't grasp its subtleties.
But the Harmonious Heaven Principle Origin Art was different. Though derived from the Principle Harmony Six Unions Art, it wasn't a sequential advanced technique—so it could be practiced right away.
No, given its nature as a method for accumulating inner power, learning it swiftly was of utmost importance.
That was why Yang-hui was now passing it on to his two siblings.
"Brother, what do we do at this part?"
"Uuung, big brother, it's too hard for Yeon-yi..."
He answered So's question, soothed and coaxed Yeon-yi, and threw himself into his own cultivation.
'Running the Harmonious Heaven Principle Origin Art in this young body—true qi accumulation and circulation are far smoother and faster than in my previous life.'
In his past life, qi deviation aftereffects had hampered his true qi control.
With no such issues in this pristine body, the difference was stark.
'This life, I can definitely grow much stronger, much faster than before.'
In his previous life, he'd reached the peak realm in his early thirties.
This time around, perhaps...
Lost in such thoughts, Yang-hui sank deeper into his inner world.
'Unite all energies under heaven into one.'
Harmonious Heaven. And Origin Unity.
Distinguish each strand of natural qi drawn in through breathing.
It seemed like one, but truly it was composed of yin and yang, the five elements—natural true qi.
Blend every last bit into true oneness, transforming it into Harmonious Heaven Qi.
It was then.
'Hm?'
Suddenly, Yang-hui realized the quality of the Harmonious Heaven Qi within him differed from his previous life.
No, more precisely...
'What is this?'
His dantian, brimming with inner power.
Something pulsed at its core.
A tiny seed that hadn't been there before.
If he had to name it… a seed of pure heart.
'Why this change?'
The energy emanating from the heart-seed—a novel, unfamiliar aura—mingled with his Harmonious Heaven Qi, imbuing it with a special quality.
Harmonious Heaven Qi, yet not as it had been in his past life.
'Pure and clear. Innocent... and exalted.'
A sense of nobility.
Even with the knowledge and insight from reaching Super Peak in his previous life, he couldn't fully fathom its depth.
This feeling was just like...
'Yes. The immortal qi exuded by enlightened Daoists. No—even deeper, loftier.'
An unintended transformation. Why the difference?
His instincts told him it was deeply tied to the reason he'd crossed back through time.
'It must be connected. Though I can't pinpoint it yet.'
Completing the Lesser Heavenly Cycle and then the Greater, the Harmonious Heaven Qi that had swirled through his meridians settled back into his dantian.
The heart-seed still pulsed at its center.
Since it harbored immortal qi, should he call it an immortal core?
'Unclear reasons are frustrating, but it's no bad change.'
That was enough. No point obsessing; it wouldn't reveal itself right away.
"Big brother, are you done?"
"Brother, you circulated qi longer than usual today."
"Got carried away."
Looking at his siblings, he continued.
"Let's call it here for today."
"Ung!"
"Yes!"
Seeing Baek Heon-so and Baek Yeon-yeon flop down to rest filled him with warmth.
'Grow up well just like this, you two.'
It was then.
Yang-hui's sharp senses picked up a commotion at the main gate.
"The Baek Clan's... chief steward, please..."
"I must... deliver this directly to the clan leader..."
Frowning, Yang-hui leaped toward the gate.
Through the open gates, he saw someone arguing with a steward.
"Chief Steward Han. What's going on?"
"Ah, Young Master Hui. A messenger from the Protection Assembly. But he's insisting on delivering it straight to the clan leader."
Protection Assembly. One of the four forces that once dominated Ak-an County—now called Ak-an Stronghold.
A coalition of mid- and small White Path sects.
Yang-hui grasped the situation easily.
'Sold off the Zhuge Clan connection, and now the flies are buzzing.'
Over the past few days, word had spread that the Zhuge Clan's young clan leader was visiting the Baek Clan Manor.
It had quieted the Advance Teaching Gang's provocations, but the Protection Assembly had latched on instead.
"Messenger, hand over the letter."
"I can't do that. I was ordered to deliver it directly to the Baek Clan Leader."
No intent to trade stares with some mere runner.
"The clan leader has entered seclusion. He won't emerge for three days. Suit yourself if you want to stand here. Chief Steward, let's go."
Half-truth, half-lie—but close enough to reality.
Baek Mu-ryang had been holed up lately, cultivating the Heaven-Covering 108 Swords and Harmonious Heaven Principle Origin Art.
But Chief Steward Han, quick on the uptake, matched Yang-hui's move and ordered the gatekeepers.
"Close the gates!"
"Yes, Chief Steward!"
"...Understood!"
Yang-hui snorted at the reluctant messenger handing over the letter and tore it open right away.
Then huddled with Chief Steward Han to read it through.
[Delivered directly to Baek Mu-ryang, leader of the Baek Clan Manor.]
[We of the Protection Assembly deeply regret the recent upheavals that struck Ak-an County...]
[To prevent such incidents, the White Path sects must unite...]
[Thus, we shall hold the Willow Harbor Assembly, gathering sect direct descendants and notables...]
[To let the downstream currents of the Long River mingle and exchange, we shall host a sparring tournament...]
Han finished reading, his face sour.
"What do you make of it, Young Master Hui?"
"Boils down to this: They covet our connection to the Zhuge Clan young clan leader. Hand him over."
"You see it the same way?"
"Of course. What other reason would the Protection Assembly have to beg from us now?"
Despite sharing Ak-an County as fellow White Path sects, there'd been no real dealings between the Protection Assembly and Baek Clan Manor.
They'd dismissed them as too small and remote.
For them to reach out now? One reason only.
"Fancy 'Willow Harbor Assembly' gathering and a little tournament to scout the young ones, cozy up to great clans. That's the play."
In other words, it was the Protection Assembly checking the Baek Clan Manor.
Different methods from Black Path overlords since they were White Path, but the essence was the same.
'An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.'
"No need to overthink it. They want to play? We'll play."
As he replied, Yang-hui scanned the surroundings.
Work crews here and there, repairing worn and crumbling buildings.
All preparations to receive Zhuge Seon—the Zhuge young clan leader and the clan leader's sworn brother—along with his entourage.
'Three days from now.'
In three days, his uncle-by-sworn-oath Zhuge Seon would visit with his daughter.
And the Willow Harbor Assembly was three days after that.
If they gave no word, Zhuge Seon wouldn't know—but skipping it outright was an option...
'Actually, perfect timing. I wanted to deepen our ties with the Zhuge Clan anyway.'
No such visit from the Zhuge young clan leader in his previous life. No knowledge of his second daughter, whom he'd only glimpsed once.
Likewise, the Protection Assembly had lain low before, but now intruded without knowing their place.
If he turned this situation into an opportunity for his clan...
'Yes, a bit early. But the sooner you build face and reputation, the better.'
Yang-hui swung his wooden sword once.
Wooong!
The resounding buzz of wings.
"Jeomsun, looks like bees have gotten in. Chase them out before Young Master and Miss get hurt."
"Yes!"
Yang-hui smirked at the maid's vigorous reply.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Early evening at the Baek Clan Manor's central training ground.
All the retainers stood in their finest clothes, gazing toward the wide-open main gate.
The guests Yeo Un-hyeok and his daughter weren't present, but Reformation Pavilion Lord Gu-ak stood beside Baek Mu-ryang, and even the ailing Jeong In-hwa had joined them.
"...Brother. Even for Father's sworn brother, isn't this a bit much? And he's the younger one, at that."
Baek Heon-so grumbled to Yang-hui beside him, his sullen gaze fixed on their unwell mother.
Understanding where his brother's eyes lingered, Yang-hui gently reassured Baek Heon-so.
"We're doing this precisely because he's the sworn younger brother."
"Huh?"
By worldly standards, the elder was the superior between sworn brothers. But the bond between Baek Mu-ryang and Zhuge Seon defied such measures.
The Baek Clan Manor: a third-rate martial family that couldn't even rank in the top ten of a mere county.
The Cloud Dragon Zhuge Clan: a colossal house contending for supremacy in the world of martial arts.
Two martial sects, yet worlds apart—like heaven and earth.
And yet, the Zhuge Clan's young clan leader had taken a third-rate house's leader as his sworn elder brother.
"Lord Guan of the Warring States took the younger Liu Bei Xuande as his elder brother, and Liu Bei treated such a Guan Yu as both younger brother and respected senior. Father is merely following that example."
Baek Heon-so couldn't grasp every word, but he committed them all to memory.
His brother never spoke falsely.
"Big brother, I see horses over there!"
Baek Yeon-yeon's little cry. The distant procession grew steadily larger.
Ten horses total, one carriage. Around twenty escort warriors.
'Modest for the Zhuge young clan leader and his sheltered daughter.'
Likely a reflection of Uncle-by-Sworn-Oath Zhuge Seon's character—and respect for his sworn elder.
Soon, the procession halted before the Baek Clan Manor's gates.
A hulking man leaped lightly over the main gate, cradling a girl in his arms.
"Elder Brother! Your little brother has arrived!"
The giant performed a one-handed salute, still holding the girl.
Seeing Zhuge Seon's beaming face, Baek Mu-ryang could hold back no longer and launched himself forward.
"Little Brother! It's been far too long!"
As the sworn brothers reunited, Yang-hui drew a deep breath, exhaled, and awakened his qi sense.
Hwaaaak—
He scanned Zhuge Seon's Eight Extraordinary Meridians and dantian. Nothing.
As expected. At his current level, he couldn't detect peak realm or higher.
Instead, Yang-hui shifted his focus from Zhuge Seon to the girl cradled in his arms.
A petite girl, her entire face veiled in pure white silk.
Reading the qi leaking from her Eight Extraordinary Meridians and dantian...
It was then.
"...!"
The girl, Zhuge Seol-ha, widened her eyes and parted her lips slightly.
Startled, Zhuge Seon bellowed in alarm.
"Seol-ha! What's wrong?!"