Chapter 94
As per what Baek Mu-Gun had discussed with Baek Cheon-Sang, the 500,000 silver nyangs they obtained from the Hangzhou Merchant Company and the Myth Vault’s former owners were invested in the Zhejiang Martial Alliance United Corps’ establishment. The other Ten Clans of Zhejiang members invested 100,000 nyangs each.
According to the agreement between the Ten Clans of Zhejiang’s patriarchs, the Zhejiang Martial Alliance leader had to pay thirty percent of the funds necessary for the Zhejiang Martial Alliance United Corps’ establishment. 500,000 nyangs exceeded that amount. Naturally, the Baek Sword Sect was well aware of that.
Nevertheless, as the Zhejiang Martial Alliance leader, the Baek Sword Sect invested more than thirty percent to set an example for the other clans. They applauded the Baek Sword Sect for going above and beyond and acknowledged them further as the Zhejiang Martial Alliance leader.
The Ten Clans of Zhejiang had also begun the full-scale recruitment of the Zhejiang Province’s minor martial clans, thirty-two of which expressed their intention to join. The alliance’s power didn’t dramatically increase just because they joined. However, recruiting them provided a justification for the Zhejiang Martial Alliance to truly establish itself as the representative force of Zhejiang Province.
At the same time, the four clans’ successors returned to their respective homes after fully learning the improved martial arts from Mu-Gun.
Furthermore, the other two members of the Four Peerless Wanderers, Sunset Sword Jin Yoo-Sung and Tempest Saber Yang Cheol-Gon, finally arrived in Wenzhou. Mu-Gun immediately headed to the Flower Honor Manor to meet them. Yoo-Sung and Cheol-Gon couldn’t believe that Mu-Gun was Guyang Hwi’s reincarnation at first either. However, when Mu-Gun revealed their secrets that no one knew, they were left with no other choice but to believe him.
Mu-Gun drank all night with the complete Four Peerless Wanderers, and after spending some time catching up with him, they finally contemplated Mu-Gun’s recruitment offer. The Four Peerless Wanderers wandered freely in murim, never having been affiliated with any faction. As such, it was definitely not an easy decision for them to be affiliated with a clan after coming so far.
Even so, Mu-Gun—-no, Guyang Hwi’s existence meant a lot to them. They bitterly regretted the fact that they could not be with Guyang Hwi, who was no different than their blood brother, in the war against the Hell-Blood Demon Sect until the very end, and they did not want to repeat that mistake again. Hence, they eventually decided to join hands with Mu-Gun, and, for his sake, joined the Baek Sword Sect. Hearing their answer, Mu-Gun felt so exhilarated it was as if he had the whole world in his hands.
“Thank you, everyone.”
Mu-Gun sincerely thanked the Four Peerless Wanderers. He knew them better than anyone else. If it weren’t for him, no matter what the conditions were, they wouldn’t have joined the Baek Sword Sect. Their decision was purely for his sake, so he was even more grateful.
“Think of it as us paying off our debt of not staying by your side until the very end of your previous life,” the Sunset Sword, Jin Yoo-Sung, said.
“If I become your sect’s venerable elder, you better keep your promise of letting me drink all the Central Plains’ finest liquor to my heart’s content.”
“What? You promised something like that to that drunkard? Why don’t we get anything?” the Tempest Saber, Yang Cheol-Gon, grunted.
“I will let you eat all kinds of delicacies. Will you be contented then?” Mu-Gun smirked.
Cheol-Gon was as crazy about food as Han Baek was crazy about alcohol.
“Fine.” Cheol-Gon quickly calmed down.
“Hey! Won’t that bankrupt the Baek Sword Sect? You two ignorant bastards really only know how to stuff your mouths.” Hwang Rei clicked his tongue.
“You’re calling us ignorant? That’s rich coming from someone who drowns himself in women day in and day out.”
Hwang Rei and Cheol-Gon began to bicker as if they would fight at any moment.
“How are you all still the same after growing much older?” Yoo-Sung shook his head.
This scene was basically no different from a daily routine for them. Mu-Gun smiled without realizing it at the sight of the Four Peerless Wanderers, who were not much different from thirty years ago. They were simple, straightforward, and more reliable than anyone else. Winning over the Four Peerless Wanderers was far more valuable than getting millions of nyangs.
Since the Four Peerless Wanderers had decided to join the Baek Sword Sect, there was no longer any reason for them to stay at the Flower Honor Manor. Mu-Gun left the Flower Honor Manor with the Four Peerless Wanderers and headed to the Baek Sword Sect.
“Keke, by the way, you’ll have to be polite to us when we get to the Baek Sword Sect. Will you be fine with that?” Han Baek teased him.
“That’s a piece of cake. I obtained a body far younger than any of you in exchange. This handsome face is a bonus.”
“Ugh, you snobbish bastard.”
“Keke, you’re the one who acted up first.”
“I must be crazy. I don’t know why I decided to join hands with someone like you.”
“Kekeke. Anyway, don’t any of you have a disciple? At your age, shouldn’t you already be raising a successor unless you want to let your martial arts go extinct?”
“Why bother raising a disciple? If we leave our martial arts behind in the right place, someone in the future will come fated to find and learn it. It would be a pretty cool thing to do,” Cheol-Gon indifferently replied.
“Oh! That’s a good idea. I haven’t found anyone to my liking anyway. It would be fun to leave behind all four of our martial arts at the same time. Aren’t you curious which one will be inherited first?”
“Men are all about the fists,” Hwang Rei confidently said, throwing a punch.
“What are you talking about!? Since ancient times, men have been all about sabers.” Cheol-Gon immediately retorted.
“Do you really think fists and sabers can hold their own against the King of All Weapons, the sword?” Even Yoo-Sung, who was the calmest among the Four Peerless Wanderers, praised his own martial arts.
“I should hit you all with my palms to stop you from spouting nonsense.” Han Baek snorted.
Mu-Gun shook his head when the Four Peerless Wanderers claimed that their own martial arts were the best. He did not find them pathetic or unpleasant, though. That was just how confident they were in their own martial arts, and had all the right to be proud, too. They bickered with each other all the way to the Baek Sword Sect, stating that their martial arts were the best.
The menacing atmosphere around them would make onlookers feel as if they would burst into a fight any minute. On the other hand, Mu-Gun was not worried at all. He knew them so well he knew this was just a daily routine for the Four Peerless Wanderers. Rather, he was already having a bad headache thinking about how noisy the Baek Sword Sect would be in the future because of them.
Soon after, they arrived at the Baek Sword Sect and went to meet Cheon-Sang together. Cheon-Sang was surprised by the Four Peerless Wanderers’ sudden visit.
“Welcome. I’m Baek Cheon-Sang, the patriarch of the Baek Sword Sect. It is a great honor to meet the Four Peerless Wanderers, who are renowned as heroes of murim.”
“Calling us heroes of murim is an overpraise. I think we should start with introductions first. Even if you have heard about us, this is the first time we’re meeting in person, so you probably don’t know who’s who. To start with, I’m Jin Yoo-Sung. Nice to meet you.”
“I’m Yang Cheol-Gon.”
“I’m Hwang Rei.”
“I’m Han Baek.”
The Four Peerless Wanderers introduced themselves one after another.
“I take it your visit means you have come up with an answer to our recruitment offer.”
“Yes. We have decided to join the Baek Sword Sect.”
“Is that true?”
“It is. We, the Four Peerless Wanderers, have decided to become a member of the Baek Sword Sect and lend our strength in the sect’s endeavor to protect murim.”
“This is such great news. Thank you very much. To have the heroes of murim, the Four Peerless Wanderers, join us feels like a dream,” Cheon-Sang said, unable to believe what he had just heard.
“However, we hate being tied down to a faction by nature. As time passes, we may unintentionally deviate from the rules and regulations of the Baek Sword Sect. During those moments, I hope you will overlook our actions and understand us, Patriarch Baek.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. You all will be given the status of the Baek Sword Sect’s venerable elders. Moreover, we will allow you to move entirely on your own accord and without any restraints, so please be at ease.”
Cheon-Sang made it clear that he would not impose any restrictions on them.
“Thank you for your consideration. Now that we’re affiliated with your sect, we should rightfully fulfill our responsibility and duty to it. So, just tell us whenever you need our strength. We will provide help to the best of our abilities.”
“Haha, just hearing that makes me feel reassured.”
Just like that, Cheon-Sang and the Four Peerless Wanderers ended their first face-to-face meeting on friendly terms. Mu-Gun led the Four Peerless Wanderers to where they would be staying, which was the most secluded area in the Baek Sword Sect. This would allow the four free-spirited people to spend their time in comfort and without having to care about others.
Cheon-Sang and Mu-Gun then announced that the Four Peerless Wanderers had joined the Baek Sword Sect as venerable elders to only the Baek Sword Corps’ five squad leaders. After all, if it became known to the public that the Four Peerless Wanderers had become the Baek Sword Sect’s venerable elders, it would unnecessarily cause the other sects to be wary and keep the Baek Sword Sect in check. There was no need to receive animosity from other forces at such an early point in time. For now, it was best to hide this until it could no longer be kept a secret.
* * *
Mu-Gun was worried about whether the Four Peerless Wanderers could adapt well to life in the Baek Sword Sect, but they did so quite well. They were now in their sixties, so their temperaments had softened to some extent. All of them being together again might have been enough for them to be satisfied. Mu-Gun’s existence held the greatest impact, however.
That being said, the Four Peerless Wanderers were adapting much better than Mu-Gun had expected, much to his relief.
Meanwhile, he received news from the Heavenly Secret Hall stating that the Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin had started making a move. Mu-Gun immediately ran to the Flower Honor Manor and met Heavenly Secret Hall leader Cheon Yu-Hwa. Baek Mu-Ok and Dan Seol-Young took a seat with them.
“The Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin made a move?”
“Yes, they deployed a considerable combat force. I think the Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin are moving with great determination.”
“What does the scale of their force look like?”
“For now, it’s been confirmed that Lulin Battle King Lee Ja-Gyung of the Three Kings of Lulin, and three of the Twelve Commanders of Lulin, namely Fierce Tiger Fist Ju Kwon, Flying Dragon Fighter Ho Cheol-San, and Black Bear Claw Kang Mu, have been deployed.”
“Mobilizing one of the Three Kings of Lulin and three of the Twelve Commanders of Lulin shows that they plan to have an all-out war with our sect.”
“There is also a possibility that Fury Tiger Fist Jeon Ho-Ik from Mount Tianmu will aid them. The route they are taking leads to the Fury Tiger Stronghold in Mount Tianmu, after all. They will most likely assemble their forces there as well. The Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin seem intent on making a clear example this time.”
“How long do you think it will take them to gather at the Fury Tiger Stronghold?”
“Most likely ten days at the latest.”
“Hmm, we should focus on how they will move forward from there, then.”
“You mean there’s a chance that the Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin won’t attack the Baek Sword Sect immediately?” Seol-Young expressed her doubts.
“It will take at least ten days for the enemy combat forces to reach Wenzhou. Within that time, our sect can just mobilize the other clans in the Zhejiang Martial Alliance to attack them from behind. Taking that into consideration, the Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin may attack the other members of the Zhejiang Martial Alliance first. The Baek Sword Sect is the Zhejiang Martial Alliance leader, so they can shift the responsibility for destroying the Nine Dragons Stronghold to the Zhejiang Martial Alliance, which would give them a good enough justification.” Mu-Ok explained in Mu-Gun’s stead, then looked at him.
“It’s just as Mu-Ok said. Attacking the Zhejiang Martial Alliance’s other members can also cause the rest to turn their backs on the Baek Sword Sect. After all, the Zhejiang Martial Alliance would suffer losses because of us,” Mu-Gun added.
“If so, then we have to make a move before they can attack the Zhejiang Martial Alliance,” Seol-Young said after nodding, fully comprehending where the Baek brothers were coming from.
“How about using this battle as an opportunity to unify the Zhejiang Martial Alliance? Make the Zhejiang Martial Alliance gather forces and defeat Lulin’s in the Fury Tiger Stronghold. From there, we can also wipe out all the remaining Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin members that are in Zhejiang Province.” Mu-Ok put forward his opinion.
“That’s a pretty good idea. It’s also an opportunity to show the world the great cause that the Zhejiang Martial Alliance is aiming toward.”
“The forces gathering in the Fury Tiger Stronghold are too big, though. To deal with the Lulin Battle King and the three Commanders of Lulin, we’re going to require just as many martial arts masters. However, we cannot deploy both father and elder brother at the same time.”
“That’s not a viable option.”
“Why don’t we borrow the power of the Four Peerless Wanderers? If they work with us, I doubt it would be that difficult to defeat Lulin’s forces.” Yu-Hwa asked.
“That’s certainly the best way.”
The Four Peerless Wanderers would gladly step forward. Mu-Gun felt bad for asking them for help as soon as he recruited them, but he had no choice but to borrow their power due to the current situation. The Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin moved faster than expected, considering he wasn’t even sure if the Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin were even aware of his identity.
Mu-Gun suspected that there was a mastermind controlling the Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin. It could even be one of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect’s factions. After all, their main expertise was hiding behind other forces while causing a disturbance in murim. If they were in control of the Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin, they would definitely not lose sight of this opportunity.
Hence, Mu-Gun refused to rule out the possibility that the Nine Celestial Demons Sect’s demonic practitioners would be among the Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin’s forces. Taking that into consideration, it was best to borrow the power of the Four Peerless Wanderers.
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