Chapter 138
Baek Mu-Gun met up with Namgung Hyun-Ah and Dan Seol-Young, who were waiting for him at the Wuyi Sword Sects manor, and returned to the Baek Sword Sect together. Although their return was delayed, they did not have any urgent matters to attend to, so Mu-Gun and his two companions were not in a particular hurry. Having gone back home a month after they left, Mu-Gun and his wives greeted Baek Cheon-Sang first.
How was it? Did you enjoy your trip?
Yes, it was great. Next time, you should come with us too, Father, Hyun-Ah suggested in a cute tone.
I am not tactless enough to do that. I would only be a bother to you all while youre enjoying your honeymoon, Cheon-Sang replied. He sounded as if he did not hate Hyun-Ahs cute charm.
You definitely would not be a bother, so please feel free to come with us next time, Seol-Young added.
Your feelings alone are enough. That aside, what do you think about giving me beautiful grandchildren as soon as possible?
Father It hasnt even been long since we got married, so why are you talking about grandchildren already? Mu-Gun quickly intervened, not wanting to put an unnecessary burden on Hyun-Ah and Seol-Young.
Well, our family has been suffering from a low birth rate for generations.
I will pay more attention to it, Father.
Me, too.
Hyun-Ah and Seol-Young cautiously answered when Cheon-Sang paid Mu-Guns argument no attention.
Cheon-Sang nodded satisfactorily. Alright, but dont feel too pressured.
Mu-Gun could only shake his head. Still, he understood where Cheon-Sang was coming from. After all, he also wanted to have a child as soon as possible.
That aside, what happened at Fujian Province? Cheon-Sang asked Mu-Gun.
I happened to come across the Evil Blood Gang while they were trying to attack the Wuyi Sword Sect. I could not turn a blind eye to it, so things escalated quickly. Because of that, however, I discovered that the Nine Celestial Demons Sect was behind the Evil Blood Gang. Mu-Gun explained.
How is that possible? Cheon-Sang asked with a surprised look.
It seems that the Nine Celestial Demons Sect has extended their grasp to the evil factions.
Which ones do you mean specifically?
They now most likely control the Heretical Emperor Hall in Jiangxi Province, Green Snake Gang in Guangxi Province, Blood Ring Gang in Shanxi Province, and Ma Thieves Gang in Liaoning Province. Those are all evil faction representatives.
The Evil Blood Gang and the four factions Mu-Gun had just mentioned were collectively known as the Five Great Evil Clans. Considering the Underworld Sect had taken control of the Evil Blood Gang, Mu-Gun thought it was also highly likely that they had extended their demonic influence to the four other factions.
Are you certain of this?
Not yet. However, I have requested the Heavenly Secret Hall to monitor the evil factions, especially the four I mentioned.
I see. Lets wait for the Heavenly Secret Halls findings for now. Shouldnt we inform the Nine Prominent Sects and the Seven Great Families that the Nine Celestial Demons Sect was behind the Evil Blood Gang?
Of course. Only then will they start keeping an eye on the evil factions as well.
Lets send an official letter to inform them of this, then. That aside, due to your help, it seems the Wuyi Sword Sect and the Sea Palace Sect managed to take over the Evil Blood Gangs territory without making any effort. Cheon-Sang seemed displeased.
You make it sound as if thats a shame.
It is. There would have been a lot to gain from a force as big as the Evil Blood Gang.
However, in return for providing the Wuyi Sword Sect and Sea Palace Sect great help, we will be able to get help from them in the future as well.
Thats true. Anyway, you did well. You truly have the luck and skills to make things happen wherever you go, Cheon-Sang teased.
I would also love to pass my time peacefully, but what can I do? These things just constantly happen when Im around. I just have to live thinking that its my destiny to go through these hardships, Mu-Gun complained.
Isnt that proof of how much the world needs you? Maybe thats why the heavens gave you that power, so consider those hardships as heavens will as well and just do your best.
Understood.
Good. You must be tired. Go get some rest.
Okay. Mu-Gun and his two wives bid farewell to Cheon-Sang and left the White Sword Pavilion.
The next day, Mu-Gun performed his duties as the Baek Sword Sects Young Patriarch. His first task was to visit their reserve forces training at the Sea Dragon Archipelago. Since they naturally needed a regular supply of food and other daily necessities while they were far from the mainland, Mu-Gun had been visiting them himself every time there was a supply run. After all, without his Thunder Gods Heavenly eyes, it was impossible to pass through the Fantasy Fog Array. He also visited to encourage their reserves and monitor their progress.
Mu-Gun delivered two months worth of food and daily necessities to the Sea Dragon Archipelago, then stayed around for two days to observe their reserve forces training. The orphans, who were all around the age of fifteen, were showing rapid growth thanks to the full support of the Baek Sword Sect, which had been regularly providing them with nutritious diets and herbs that helped boost their internal energy. Moreover, they also made sure to conduct intensive physical and martial arts training to aid their growth.
The reserve forces never once gave up. After all, they would be forced to leave the Sea Dragon Archipelago if they failed to pass the set criteria of the performance evaluation held quarterly. Although the training was difficult, no other place could provide for them the same way the Baek Sword Sect did. They knew that better than anyone.
Wanting to survive at the Sea Dragon Archipelago until they could become a full-fledged Baek Sword Sect martial artist, the orphans trained as hard as they could. The Baek Sword Sects full support and the reserve forces firm determination combined, they grew rapidly. Having confirmed the bright future of the Baek Sword Sect by observing them, he returned home with joy.
As soon as he got home, Mu-Gun inspected the martial arts of the White Dragon Corps and the White Tiger Corps. It didnt take long for him to conclude that their skills had increased beyond recognition over the past month. Their improvements evidenced their refusal to neglect their training while he was away.
He also confirmed that the sparring training that he had introduced had monumental effects. Wanting to promote competition between the White Dragon Corps and the White Tiger Corps to improve their skills, he incorporated sparring matches between the two sword corps into their training. The White Dragon Corps consisted of the Baek Sword Corps existing members and the White Tiger Corps were made up of ex-army martial artists, making them the perfect targets to induce competitiveness. As the Baek Sword Sects older members, the White Dragon Corps pride would not allow them to lag behind the new White Tiger Corps. Meanwhile, the White Tiger Corps would see the sparring matches as the perfect chance to showcase their skills.
Using their competitive mindset, Mu-Gun increased the effectiveness of the training by holding a sparring competition between the White Dragon Corps and the White Tiger Corps every seven days, then rewarding the winning corps.
The two corps competed with their pride on the line. Those who lost devoted themselves further to their training in hopes of winning the next competition, and those who won were no different. Hence, the White Dragon Corps and White Tiger Corps skills quickly improved.
Competing with each other was not necessarily always good, though. If the competition between them went too far, it would create discord. To prevent that, Mu-Gun assigned accommodations by mixing the members of the two corps. He thought that if they lived together in the same dorms, they would end up developing a strong bond. Once a month, he also gathered the White Dragon Corps and the White Tiger Corps to have a group dinner. With the presence of alcohol, their misunderstandings were resolved, and their bond was further strengthened.
Those measures seemed to be effective, considering the White Dragon Corps and the White Tiger Corps showed no signs of conflict. Instead, they competed in good faith to help with each others growth. Extremely satisfied with the White Dragon Corps and the White Tiger Corps improvements, Mu-Gun returned to the Baek Sword Sect headquarters and proceeded to examine the skills of Jeong Ho-Gun, Jo Won-Yee, and the Six White Wolves.
One by one, Mu-Gun called the eight to the training hall and personally sparred with them, finding satisfactory results.
You six have become much better at unleashing and applying the techniques. Keep going like this a bit more, and youll soon see the gates of the Peak Realm, Mu-Gun commented afterward.
Seriously?
Yes, so try to devote yourself more to your training moving forward.
Understood.
What about us? Ho-Gun asked.
I know how hard you have been training, but you have been going about it the wrong way, Mu-Gun said.
What do you mean?
Perhaps its because the Heavenly Medicine Pill has increased your internal energy, but you both have a strong tendency to rely on your internal energy when unleashing your techniques. At this rate, although your skills seem to be improving right now, you could face a huge hurdle in the future.
What should we do, then?
Focus on your techniques themselves and dont use your internal energy. You have to make the techniques you use completely yours first. That will allow you to exert much more power once you imbue them with internal energy. Moreover, if you can gain enlightenment in the process of exploring your martial arts techniques, you will be able to advance without any hurdles blocking your path.
You want us to not rely on our internal energy and instead understand the form and execution of our techniques?
Thats right. It may seem like you are taking a few steps back, but it will become a straight road in the end.
I see what you mean. We will do as you say, but Im not sure if we will be able to do well.
Dont worry. Im here to help you, Mu-Gun reassured the two.
We must have had to save our country in our previous lives to have a precious friend like you, Won-Yee said in gratitude.
I doubt that. Perhaps he was our enemy in our past lives? We must be paying off our debts from that time, Ho-Gun jokingly countered.
Hmm, do you want me to be your enemy in this life too? Mu-Gun interjected.
Im kidding, Im kidding. Im sure you would have been nice to us in our previous lives too. Mmhmm, Im sure of it.
Mu-Gun chuckled at Ho-Guns cheekiness. He then turned to his six followers.
What I just said applies to the six of you as well, so keep that in mind.
Understood.
Great work, everyone. Please be on your way, Mu-Gun bid them farewell.
Its been a month since we last saw you. Arent you sending us off too cold-heartedly? Ho-Gun said, hinting that Mu-Gun was being too mean by driving them away.
Then what more do you need?
Its been so long since we last had a drink together.
Thats true. I did nothing but train myself to death while you were gone. It should be fine to have the day off, Won-Yee added, welcoming Ho-Guns suggestion.
If thats all you want, then lets get together for a drink tonight. You six should come too.
No. We will sit this one out. Please enjoy the night, Baek San-Kyung politely declined.
Mu-Gun did not insist since the Six White Wolves might find it uncomfortable to sit with the three of them at the same table.
Forget about training today, then. Ill give you some money to enjoy your time off.
Well be alright. We receive a monthly salary, so we can pay for our own meals just fine.
I am not giving you money because you dont have any. Its your reward for training hard, so dont feel so pressured, Mu-Gun insisted.
We will gratefully accept it, then.
Mu-Gun gave ten silver nyangs to the Six White Wolves. With that money, they could have a good time in most of the brothels in Wenzhou. That same evening, Mu-Gun had dinner with Ho-Gun and Won-Yee at the Shanhai Tavern, then drank with them until late at night.
* * *
Mu-Gun woke up early in the morning and circulated his qi for two hours, curing his hangover and fatigue from drinking the night away yesterday.
If youre done, please wash up first. Dan Seol-Young brought over a basin of water when Mu-Gun stood up.
Didnt I tell you to leave such matters to the servants? Why are you doing it?
I want to serve you myself. This isnt that difficult anyway. Seol-Young smiled.
Since he could not stop her, Mu-Gun just gently flicked her nose with his finger. He then washed his face.
Here you go.
Seol-Young quickly handed over a towel to him.
Thank you.
Dont mention it. Ive also prepared a change of clothes for you. Ill bring over breakfast once Im done making it, so please wait for a bit. Seol-Young left the room with the basin of water. Her desire to take care of Mu-Gun made Mu-Gun smile.
He had already changed into new clothes and tidied up his hair when Seol-Young brought breakfast over.
You must be hungry. Go ahead and eat.
Eat with me.
Mu-Gun had breakfast with Seol-Young.
What are your plans for today? Seol-Young asked.
Im planning on visiting the Medicine King Family. After that, Ill check on Brother Yong-Hwans martial arts since I couldnt do it yesterday. If I have enough time, I also plan to check on Young Master Chos martial arts too.
Im worried that helping so many people with their martial arts will leave you with insufficient time for your own martial arts training.
Hmmm, how about I cut back on the time I spend with you, dear? Mu-Gun joked.
I dare you to try that.
Haha, even if you told me to, I would never do something like that, Mu-Gun said firmly.
You really like teasing me, huh? Seol-Young sulked.
Thats only because I like you, dear.
Tsk, if you say you like me twice, youre probably planning to make fun of me all day. Seol-Young gave Mu-Gun an adorable stare.
Mu-Gun only smirked in response.
After having breakfast, Mu-Gun visited the Medicine King Family and received three Heavenly Medicine Pills and twenty-five Hundred Herb Pills. Afterward, he returned to the Baek Sword Sect and immediately visited Cheon-Sang to discuss the three Heavenly Medicine Pills distribution.
Eventually, they decided to give two of the pills to Baek Yong-Hwan and Baek Jin-Ryong and keep the remaining pills in hand for now. The Hundred Herb Pills were given to the White Dragon Corps and the White Tiger Corps, but they set aside five of the pills each week to use as a reward for whoever won the sparring competition between the two corps.
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