Chapter 92
At the same time as Baek Mu-Gun returned to the Baek Sword Sect, the herbs that he had requested from the Eun Merchant Group were successfully purchased. Mu-Gun secretly delivered the herbs to the Medicine King Family, then received one month’s worth of Heavenly Medicine Elixirs and Hundred Herb Elixirs from them.
The Heavenly Medicine Elixirs were set aside to be given to the patriarchs of the Ten Clans of Zhejiang. Meanwhile, the Hundred Herb Elixirs were distributed to over seventy Baek Sword Corps martial artists, causing their internal energy and martial arts to undergo significant improvements. Moreover, giving the Baek Sword Corps’ warriors such precious spiritual pills moved them to tears and made them devote themselves even more to their martial arts training in hopes of repaying the Baek Sword Sect’s generosity.
Even the martial artists who were yet to receive a spiritual pill trained harder instead of feeling dissatisfied. The Baek Sword Sect thoroughly provided them with the necessary resources, from martial arts to spiritual pills, to develop their skills. Hence, the fastest way they could get new martial arts and spiritual pills was to improve. Since they were guaranteed rewards based on their skills, the Baek Sword Corps’ warriors voluntarily engrossed themselves in training instead of anyone forcing them.
Many of their martial artists in the past trained haphazardly despite already lacking in many areas since they were still paid a monthly salary. However, through skill assessments, the Baek Sword Sect identified and kicked out martial artists who didn’t meet their standards and provided definite skill-based compensation. As a result, the stance of the Baek Sword Corps’ martial artists also changed.
This was what Mu-Gun wanted the Baek Sword Corps to become. Their skills were still far too inferior compared to the elites of the Seven Great Families, but if they continued putting in consistent effort, they would one day be able to stand toe-to-toe against the Seven Great Families’ elites.
Meanwhile, the Baek Sword Sect sent a letter to Byeok Sword Manor and three other clans about the improvement of their martial arts, and a reply arrived from them a few days later. As Mu-Gun had predicted, they had decided to entrust the improvement of their martial arts to the Baek Sword Sect. They also sent their successors over for that purpose.
In the midst of it all, they received a report from the investigation team dispatched to Shaoxing about the manor the Zhejiang Martial Alliance United Corps would use. The manor recommended by the investigation team was located at the foot of Mount Xianglu, which was in the southeastern part of Shaoxing, and was quite large since it was a group of several manors instead of just one. The Eastern Jin Dynasty’s nobles built it after Namcheon, so most of the manors were said to be old, empty, and well-preserved.
The investigation team proposed to buy, renovate, and expand all of the manors, then establish the Zhejiang Martial Alliance United Corps there. They predicted the project would take at least five years and more than five million silver nyangs. The duration aside, five million silver nyangs was a huge amount of money.
Even though Baek Cheon-Sang was the Zhejiang Martial Alliance leader, this was not something that he could arbitrarily decide on. Moreover, it was a huge project that required huge amounts of investments, so they couldn’t just decide without seeing the area in person first.
Cheon-Sang decided to hold a meeting with the Ten Clans of Zhejiang’s patriarchs in Shaoxing and visit the location. Only then would he decide whether or not to establish the Zhejiang Martial Alliance United Corps there.
Hence, Cheon-Sang himself traveled to Shaoxing. Baek Cheon-Gi decided to go with Cheon-Sang this time instead of Mu-Gun, who frequently traveled outside, and fifty Baek Sword Corps members joined them as escorts.
* * *
While Cheon-Sang was away, Mu-Gun took charge of the Baek Sword Sect since he was the young patriarch. Mu-Gun had already been overseeing many things on behalf of Cheon-Sang, so standing in as the patriarch did not change his role too much.
Meanwhile, the young patriarchs Mei Jang-Hyun of the Mei Household, Dam Woo-Kyung of the Iron Palm Sect, Byeok Jin-Woon of the Byeok Sword Manor, and Shim Ok-Hwan of the Clear Sun Sect arrived at the Baek Sword Sect in order. Mu-Gun welcomed them warmly.
After Cheon-Sang was appointed as the Zhejiang Martial Alliance leader, the Baek Sword Sect’s status rose significantly. Perhaps because of that, the successors were very careful in their attitude toward Mu-Gun. What surprised him the most was Jin-Woon’s, however.
Mu-Gun thought that Jin-Woon would be hostile toward the Baek Sword Sect because of Byeok Cheol-Gun’s death. However, Jin-Woon did not show any hints of it. Rather, he dropped his pride and treated Mu-Gun politely. For some reason, however, Mu-Gun felt he wasn’t being sincere.
To him, it looked as if Jin-Woon was hiding his true feelings and was acting out a lie. Considering Jin-Woon’s previous actions, it was certainly a possibility. He wouldn’t gain anything from showing hostility right now, so there was a chance that he chose to hide it, perhaps until he had acquired enough strength in the future to avenge Cheol-Gun’s death. Of course, Jin-Woon could have had a change of heart after some form of realization stemming from Cheol-Gun’s death, but Mu-Gun knew very well that people did not change so easily.
It would be better not to improve their martial arts now since he had his suspicions. However, they couldn’t just discriminate against the Byeok Sword Manor and treat them differently from the other Ten Clans of Zhejiang purely due to an unfavorable impression.
Hence, his best option right now was to proceed with their martial arts improvement since that would at least ensure the Byeok Sword Manor would not have other thoughts. From there, it would do good to observe their actions.
Mu-Gun learned the four clans’ martial arts from their successors, then immediately began to work on improving them. Using the knowledge he had gained about their martial arts as the foundation, he set a rough outline for their upgrade. He was incredibly fast in improving their martial arts—taking less than three days each—but passing them down was a completely different matter.
The four clans’ successors were talented in their own ways. However, the improved martial arts’ standard was higher than their level, so it would inevitably take them quite a long time to understand and learn it. Deciding not to rush it, Mu-Gun focused on properly teaching them the new martial arts even if it would take some time.
In the process, the four successors learned the extent of Mu-Gun’s outstanding martial prowess and the extensive knowledge he had of martial arts. Hence, beyond just admitting that he was distinctly different from them in terms of skill, they came to admire him. The successors of the Ten Clans of Zhejiang began to willingly follow his leadership because of how generous he was to them. No matter how competent he was, if he just focused on making himself stronger and ignored everyone else, he could certainly instill fear into them, but it would be difficult to truly win over their hearts.
While Mu-Gun handed down the improved martial arts, Nine Dragons Fist Hwang Roe, who was living in seclusion in Mount Wuyi, Fujian Province, arrived at Wenzhou. When Mu-Gun received news that Hwang Roe was already at the Flower Honor Manor, he dashed over to meet with him immediately. Although he had become older, Mu-Gun smiled happily upon seeing Hwang Roe, who didn’t look much different since Mu-Gun’s previous reincarnation.
“You only got older, but you’re still the same as back then.”
“Ha, having experienced this myself, this is really baffling. Are you really Guyang Hwi?”
“I was Guyang Hwi in my previous life. I am known as Baek Mu-Gun right now.”
“That bastard Han Baek wouldn’t lie to us, but honestly, it’s hard for me to believe you. Can you convince me?”
“Should I recite the final scriptures of the Supreme Nine Dragons Fist Art?”
The Supreme Nine Dragons Fist Art was Hwang Roe’s martial arts.
Mu-Gun remembered Hwang Roe being blocked by a wall in his previous life, unable to break down the Supreme Nine Dragons Fist Art’s final technique. At that time, it was Mu-Gun, previously known as Guyang Hwi, who resolved that. Mu-Gun knowing the last scripture of the Supreme Nine Dragons Fist Art served as clear evidence that he was Guyang Hwi.
“Try it, then,” Hwang Roe said, seemingly still finding it hard to believe.
Mu-Gun immediately began to recite the Supreme Nine Dragons Fist Art’s scriptures.
“Stop!”
Hwang Roe quickly raised his hand to stop Mu-Gun when he heard him starting to recite the final scriptures as if it was his own martial arts.
“Do you believe me now?”
“How can I not? Guyang Hwi was the only other person who knew this scripture aside from me. I thought things like previous life and reincarnation were all bullshit, so I didn’t expect to witness it with my own eyes. Anyway, it’s nice to see you again, even though you’re in a different body. I had a lot of regrets after sending you off like that.”
“Why don’t you stay close to me so that you won’t regret it this time?”
“You’re really going straight into recruiting me?”
“That’s how much of a coveted talent you are.”
“Let’s talk about troublesome matters later. Why not have a drink first since it’s been so long since we last met each other?” Han Baek shook a bottle of alcohol.
Mu-Gun and Hwang Roe smiled in response, took a seat, and began to catch up for the first time in a while. They naturally talked about the past so much that Hwang Roe eventually no longer doubted that Mu-Gun was Guyang Hwi’s reincarnation. After all, Mu-Gun thoroughly remembered events that only Guyang Hwi would know. Mu-Gun, who drank until past midnight that day, decided to spend the night at the Flower Honor Manor instead of returning to the Baek Sword Sect because it was already late and he was intoxicated.
Usually, customers spending the night at a brothel would be accompanied by a gisaeng, but Mu-Gun did not ask for one. However, not long after Mu-Gun was guided to his room, a gisaeng came into his room anyway. Much to Mu-Gun’s surprise, the gisaeng was none other than Dan Seol-Young.
“What brings you to my room, Lady Dan?” Mu-Gun asked in surprise.
“If you don’t mind, I will serve you in bed, Young Master Baek.”
“There would be nothing better than Lady Dan taking care of me. However, are you okay with that?”
“Do you remember when I told you that I was trying to understand my own feelings?”
“I do.”
“This is my answer. I have decided to be your woman no matter how many of us you already have. Even if make me your mistress, I can put up with it, Young Master Baek,” Seol-Young said with a determined look.
“I refuse to make you my mistress, Lady Dan. I don’t have the slightest intention of secretly meeting someone I have feelings for.”
“If so, do you accept my feelings?”
“The moment I first laid eyes on you, my heart was already yours, Lady Dan.”
Seol-Young turned red at Mu-Gun’s cheesy words. As the sight made Mu-Gun’s heart flutter, he approached her. Unable to look directly at Mu-Gun, Seol-Young lowered her head only for Mu-Gun to raise it up by the chin. She stared into his eyes as she looked up.
“Can I take you for myself?” Mu-Gun asked, and Seol-Young nodded shyly in response.
Without waiting any longer, Mu-Gun wrapped his arms around Seol-Young’s waist and kissed her on the lips. The two exchanged light kisses at first, but their kiss soon deepened and eventually involved their tongues. Mu-Gun’s skillful kisses made Seol-Young moan, which he saw as a sign to take it further. He lifted her up and moved her to the bed.
Mu-Gun gently undressed Seol-Young, revealing her bare spotless body, which was as white as the moonlight. She had moderately busty breasts, a slender waist, a desirable hip, and slender legs. Met with her naked beauty, Mu-Gun could no longer maintain his composure. He hurriedly took off his clothes and jumped at Seol-Young. That evening, they passionately made love intertwined with each other. Their heated intercourse lasted all night.
The next morning, Seol-Young got up earlier than Mu-Gun to prepare a cup of honey tea for him. She smiled as she did, remembering Mu-Gun making love to her. If she knew it was going to feel that great, she would have opened her heart to him way earlier. In all honesty, she was disappointed to learn that he had shared an affectionate relationship with another woman. She wanted to become Mu-Gun’s one and only, not share him with someone else, she tried her best to forget about him.
However, the more Seol-Young tried, the more she thought about and missed Mu-Gun. At that moment, Heavenly Secret Hall Leader Cheon Yu-Hwa told Seol-Young about her own experience—about admiring Heavenly Thunder God's Swordsman Guyang Hwi but missing her chance due to her pride, which prevented her from conveying her feelings to him. Cheon-Hwa said that she still regretted it to this day.
Seol-Young changed her decision upon hearing that. So what if she had to share Mu-Gun with another woman? Wasn’t it better than losing Mu-Gun forever? It did not matter how many women Mu-Gun had. For as long as he loved her, that was already good enough. At the same time, she began to feel at ease. Now that she had made love with Mu-Gun, she felt so happy it was as if the whole world was in her grasp. Whatever would happen in the future, she knew she wouldn’t regret her decision.
Seol-Young went back to Mu-Gun’s room with a cup filled with honey tea to the brim. Her presence awakened Mu-Gun.
“You woke up early.”
“I wanted to prepare a cup of honey tea for you.”
“You must be tired. You should have just slept more.”
“I wanted to serve you, Young Master Baek. Would you like to have it now?”
“Give it to me.”
Mu-Gun got up from his seat, took the honey tea from Seol-Young, and drank it all.
“Wow, this is nice and sweet. Thank you.”
“How would you like your breakfast?”
“I’ll have breakfast with the two Peerless Wanderers.”
“You should, then. I’ll get going now.”
“Lady Dan! No, Seol-Young! Please stop being so polite. It makes me feel as if we’re in a distant relationship.”
“Okay.” Seol-Young smiled brightly and left the room. Mu-Gun also got up and prepared to have breakfast.
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