"The next chapter... what do you an by that?"
"Hmm. What I an is... it's the part where the 'Four Hegemons of Shaanxi', unable to determine superiority, ask the Honored One of the Yang-Bai rchant Sect for a judgnt. It would be good for Fang Master Wu to say it."
"..."
"What are you doing? Not speaking."
Wu Tai said with a reluctant expression, "So, can you determine the martial prowess of those three?"
"Hmm. Isn't the line a bit bland?"
Baekji stood up, puffed out his chest, cleared his throat, and said, "Yang Honored One! We have competed all day, but our skills are similar, so we cannot determine superiority at all. Please pass judgnt with the eyes of an absolute master!"
"..."
"I would say this. Hahaha... Scribes! Write it down well. It's important that the Yang Honored One laughed heartily!"
Baekji was playing both the drum and the gong himself.
"Indeed, the top hundred masters! Even though it was a martial arts contest that startled the heavens and overturned the earth, you could not determine superiority in the end! It can truly be called a battle of dragons and tigers. If that is the case, I will give you a lesson and determine the martial prowess of you heroes!"
Baekji drew his bamboo staff.
The scribes busily moved their brushes.
"...!"
"......?"
"Th-that is..."
As everyone was reluctant, Baekji said, "Scribes, did you write it down well? Follow . We have to go to the martial arts stage. Now, let's go, heroes."
Baekji herded Ling Yunchan and the others to the martial arts stage.
Around the martial arts stage were Mado, Cho-hye, Hongyan, Hu Yeonjo, Senior Oh, and Jang Sam. Senior Oh and Jang Sam, who were wrapped in bandages, let out continuous groans as they were suddenly dragged out.
"There must be an audience. It's not a cloud-like audience... but write that quite a few have gathered."
* * *
In the second chapter of the 'Four Hegemons of Shaanxi Great Assembly', the leaders were beaten trendously.
Baekji's bamboo staff danced splendidly, and marks from the bamboo staff were engraved all over the leaders' bodies.
Nevertheless, only their faces were untouched, so they were clean.
They realized it keenly.
The saying that if they were mantises, Baekji was a yellow dragon, was not an exaggeration...
The four of them rushed at him as if to die, but they could not even touch the tip of Baekji's hair.
"Eu..."
"..."
From a certain mont, the expressions of the leaders changed.
They were serious.
It was neither anger nor despair.
It was a look that desired sothing.
Peok!
In the ear of Ling Yunchan, whose side was bursting, the line that Baekji spat out after clearing his throat was heard.
Ling Yunchan, lest he miss a single character, listened intently, enduring the pain.
"Sect Master Ling's sword has beco heavy and has hardened. That is not what 'movent in stillness' is. You must let go of the heaviness within you to see the true heavy sword! This is called containing heaviness in lightness."
Peo-peok―!
"Fang Master Gwak! Change is not about speed and strength! The subtlety of power is..."
Tta-dang!
Baekji, who had struck the half-moon saber that was continuously attacking, shouted as if frustrated.
"I told you not to just strike down so ignorantly! This stupid... ah! Scribes! Erase what I just said! From 'the subtlety of power is' again...!"
"..."
"...The subtlety of power is the change in strength and weakness. To achieve the change of the half-moon saber, you must look again at the change of power within you. Hahaha, if you realize this, there will be no one who can block Fang Master Gwak's saber!"
Ting―! Ching!
"Sect Master Ha, you are indeed cunning. You are qualified to handle speed. However, one who wishes to reach the extre of speed must also learn steadfastness. There is a limit to what a speed that fears to clash can achieve."
Baekji, who was appropriately pointing out the weaknesses of the three.
So they had no choice but to listen even while being beaten.
The limit that they themselves knew, but had been unable to overco until now...
While being beaten by Baekji, they were knocking on that wall.
Hu Yeonjo, Hongyan, Senior Oh, and Jang Sam, who were watching the martial arts contest, also listened to Baekji's advice with bated breath.
Although they could not engrave it on their bodies, watching it with their own eyes and listening to Baekji's explanation, it entered their ears clearly.
Mado also listened with sparkling eyes, as if interested.
However...
'I, I...'
Wu Tai was just getting beaten for no reason.
'Is there still so old grudge left? Is that why he is discriminating against only ?'
The one who needed the advice of a master the most was Wu Tai. Because he was knocking on the wall of the 'flower realm'.
Wu Tai, after being beaten by Tie Yantai in front of the White Mountain Sect, had gritted his teeth and spurred on his training, and he felt that he was standing at the end of the 'true realm'.
If he could just get one word at this ti...
With a desperate wish, Wu Tai rushed at Baekji ahead of anyone else, and was beaten the most.
But he didn't say a single word to him.
At that mont...
"Hahaha."
That strange laugh.
"Fang Master Wu! Why do countless masters put down their swords at the end of the 'true realm'? Why are there only about ten masters of the 'transcendent realm' in the world, so they are called the top ten masters? Is it because you still don't know that it's because they try to overco the wall within them with the enlightennt of others?"
Instantly, Wu Tai stopped as if he had been struck by lightning.
"Your own inner core is firm, so why do you seek the advice of others!"
Following that, a single word that struck his head!
Wu Tai stood on the spot and entered a state of ditation.
Seeing this, Baekji lowered his bamboo staff.
"Hoo. This is enough. Scribes! Did you write it down well? That's all for today! Let's write the next chapter tomorrow."
The second day of the 'Four Hegemons of Shaanxi Great Assembly' ended.
.
.
.
When there was no news from the leaders who had entered the Yang rchant Guild for two days, the martial forces waiting outside beca restless.
Each quickly contacted their main camps, and so the martial forces of each faction flocked.
Now, the front of the Yang rchant Guild was a sea of people, and a tense, touch-and-go atmosphere hung in the air.
When the sun set, Wu Tai ca out and announced, "The second day of the 'Four Hegemons of Shaanxi Great Assembly' has ended. It will be concluded tomorrow, so be patient and wait."
* * *
The morning of the third day.
Hongyan looked for Baekji.
"A ssage has co from the main mountain. This is the first ti a reply has co so quickly."
Baekji was also slightly surprised.
"Are you saying a carrier pigeon has already gone to and from Tianshan?"
"I can't tell you the details."
"What did they say?"
"Surprisingly... the Demonic Advisor himself is coming."
"Demonic Advisor? Is another old scholar coming?"
"No. The Demonic Advisor is a very young person. He is said to be handso, too."
Hongyan said with eyes full of anticipation.
"He is the one that all the won of the main mountain are after... no, admire."
"Tsk! He must be a smooth brat."
"Where shall we et?"
"Hmm. Tell him to co to the Yang-Bai rchant Sect."
"That won't do."
"Why."
"Isn't that enemy territory? I can't escort the Demonic Advisor to a dangerous place."
"What are you talking about? Half of the martial force are Demonic Cult mbers."
"Sohow... the Hongng Brothel has a good atmosphere..."
Hongyan revealed her ulterior motive.
"Do as you please. I also don't like a smooth brat coming and going."
"I understand. I will serve you with loyalty."
Hongyan said in a strange, nasal voice.
"Who? ? Or the Demonic Advisor?"
"Of course... both of you."
As Hongyan left, Wu Ping announced, "The leaders have gathered."
"Yes. Is today the last day? We have to end on a high note... but there's no dramatic elent. It would be nice if a Blood Demon were to intrude."
Where did that brat go and what is he doing? He's not here when I need him.
"It would be good to finish today. The atmosphere of the martial forces outside the gate is unusual. They are protesting, asking if the sect masters are not being held captive."
"Hmm... really?"
Baekji's eyes sparkled.
"Wouldn't the dramatic effect increase if one of the top ten masters appeared?"
Wu Ping inwardly sighed.
In his view, it was a failed play from the beginning. Who would want to see a play like the 'Four Hegemons of Shaanxi Great Assembly'?
Unless a Blood Demon really intruded and ran wild, no one would watch it.
Still, he couldn't say that.
"If Mado says a word... it will have a calming effect."
"Good! The mont the martial forces are about to have a gang fight, the second-ranked of the top ten masters appears."
* * *
In front of the main gate of the Yang rchant Guild.
Four factions were confronting each other. The Namil Sect and the ixian Fang, who had been fighting until a few days ago, were on the verge of drawing their swords at any mont.
The Namil Sect, worried about the safety of their leader, was trying to rush into the Yang rchant Guild, and the ixian Fang was blocking them.
"Don't block the way!"
"You are the ones blocking our way."
There, the 'Iron Horse Sect' and the 'Zhaoling Sect' also confronted each other.
As hundreds of martial forces revealed their killing intent, the air seed to have cooled down.
At that mont, a large gong rang and the main gate opened.
Everyone's gaze was fixed on the woman who ca out of the main gate and stood there.
"Who is that?"
"Mado? They said Mado was at the Yang rchant Guild."
"That's right, she looks similar to the rumors."
Mado glared at soone who was chattering.
Paat―!
An imnse cold energy erupted from Mado's body.
"Uut!"
"Such a sharp ki... as expected of a top ten master?"
The killing intent that hundreds of martial forces had been exuding was suppressed in an instant. The front of the Yang rchant Guild was covered in Mado's cold energy.
Mado looked around at the martial forces with a cold gaze.
No one dared to draw their weapons.
It felt like they would die the mont they drew them.
"..."
Only a cold silence flowed in front of the main gate.
Mado thought, 'To just show off my montum and receive money. Making money is easier than I thought.'
Main hall.
The gong rang and Baekji appeared with his usual hearty laugh.
"Hahaha."
The leaders of the 'Four Hegemons of Shaanxi' now found that fake laugh terrifying. Ha Wonjo even twisted his body.
But they had gained a lot.
They waited for Baekji's words without a sound.
"Finally, today is the final chapter of the 'Four Hegemons of Shaanxi Great Assembly'. It's not difficult. The leaders just need to consult and confirm their territories."
Baekji suddenly said with a tense face, "Right now, outside, the martial forces of the 'Four Hegemons of Shaanxi', unable to wait, are trying to intrude. If you do not successfully conclude the eting today... Shaanxi will beco a sea of blood, and in the end, it will fall into the hands of the Blood Sect! I believe you will approach the eting with the sole intention of saving the people of Shaanxi."
Ling Yunchan raised his hand.
"This sect master will go out and withdraw the Namil Sect."
"No, there's no need for that! Right now, one of the top ten masters, the second-ranked... Mado is fighting a battle of one against hundreds. You just need to hurry up and finish the eting."
At Baekji's subtle threat and the words that it was the end, the leaders of the 'Four Hegemons of Shaanxi' spread out a map and drew lines.
There was a slight argunt between Ha Wonjo and Guan Wuhyeok, but it was quickly settled.
Although they were also curious about the situation outside the gate.
'I want to be alone quickly.'
They had to train before the enlightennt they had gained yesterday disappeared.
Because they desperately wanted to finish quickly, they decided to roughly respect the existing boundaries.
When the leaders showed the confird territories, Baekji shook his head.
"Xi'an is not there. Xi'an must also be divided fairly. Ah, right, scribes... change this to honorifics."
At Baekji's words, Wu Tai answered, "Xi'an is a neutral territory. As the comrcial rights are large, a fight could break out, so it's better to leave it as neutral..."
"Eum. It seems the sect masters have misunderstood my intentions."
Ha Wonjo and Guan Wuhyeok flinched. They rembered being dragged to the back of the main hall for misunderstanding.
"I will enlighten you! The current territory is your responsibility! At this ti when the Blood Sect is rampant, you must defend your own territory. If you leave Xi'an as neutral, no one will take care of it, right? Don't refuse and divide it fairly into four. And you must each take responsibility for and take care of the rchant guilds and private houses belonging to that area!"
"..."
"If I hear that the Blood Sect is running rampant in that area... I will co in person. At that ti, you will have to give up your position in the 'Four Hegemons of Shaanxi'. Scribe, don't write this down."
The leaders of the 'Four Hegemons of Shaanxi' finally understood the aning of this strange play.
Baekji had put forward the 'Four Hegemons' as a shield to protect Shaanxi.
Since the boundaries of the 'Four Hegemons' had been clearly drawn, they could not neglect it on the grounds that it was ambiguous.
(End of Chapter)
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