Baek Family Manor was located in Agan County, Wuzhou, Jiangxi Province.
Like the other regions of Jiangxi Province, Wuzhou made its living through the crops produced by its vast plains, as well as trade carried along the rivers and canals that stretched in every direction. But Agan County was different.
The famous Yuhang Lake, renowned throughout Jiangxi Province for its breathtaking scenery, was right beside it.
With an enormous number of travelers, sightseers, and idle pleasure-seekers visiting Yuhang Lake every year, restaurants, inns, and pleasure houses flourished throughout Agan County.
In other words, there were plenty of places to take advantage of.
“Though it is the same throughout the martial world, Agan County has an especially large number of martial factions, particularly Black Path factions. There are dozens of groups openly displaying their signs, and even after excluding the insignificant ones, four names remain.”
“Red Bridge Gang. Blue Snake Gang. Sushou Association. Gyojin Gang.”
The old man—no, Yeo Unjeok—spat out the four names as if he had known them all along.
Of course he would have investigated this much before coming here. That would make things easier.
“The four factions that rule over Agan County. Among them, the Red Bridge Gang Leader wishes to become the absolute ruler of Agan County.”
The important matter was the Red Bridge Gang Leader’s intentions, but Yeo Unjeok focused on something else.
“You lumped the Sushou Association together with them as a mere faction. Aren’t they a righteous faction?”
The Sushou Association was indeed an alliance of martial groups that operated businesses such as martial arts schools and escort services—businesses that forced them to present themselves as a righteous faction.
They are merely pretending to walk the righteous path.
Yanghwi shrugged and continued.
“Does that really matter? Regardless, Agan County is a place where various martial factions, especially Black Path fighters, are constantly fighting and joining forces. All over what originally belonged to my family.”
It was true that Agan County had developed around Yuhang Lake, but the ones who laid the foundation here had been the founding ancestor of the Baek Clan.
The location of Baek Family Manor, standing right at the center of Agan County, was proof of that.
“So what is it you wish to say, Young Master?”
Yanghwi withdrew the spear-hand that had been pointed at Yeo Unjeok’s neck all this time and plopped himself down.
“My legs hurt now that I’m old. Since this conversation seems like it will take a while, let’s sit while we talk.”
“……”
Was that really something one should say in front of an old man?
“I only meant that I wanted you to be comfortable, Elder. If we are not going to keep our blades raised at each other, there is no reason to remain uncomfortable, is there?”
Yeo Unjeok quietly sat down on the roof ridge.
Meanwhile, Yanghwi once again reviewed the logic he would use to persuade him.
The moment Sister Rang was poisoned, the old man and the Red Bridge Gang Leader were already people who could no longer exist under the same sky.
Meaning there was no chance Turning a Deer into a Horse, Yeo Unjeok, would become an ally of the Red Bridge Gang.
Therefore, Yanghwi needed a plan that would turn Yeo Unjeok into an ally of the Baek Family while also weakening the Black Path factions of Agan County.
And achieve my original goal of letting Sister Rang and Brother Gu spend their lives together.
“Young Master. Tell me. What is it you wish to do together?”
“It is simple. I intend to bring down the Red Bridge Gang Leader, the obstacle standing in the way of Sister Rang’s happiness.”
Yeo Unjeok’s eyes deepened.
“Whatever method you use, chaos will arise. It will create an opportunity for the Baek Family to profit. Could it be that you have arranged this entire game yourself?”
Yanghwi inwardly clicked his tongue.
This was why one had to be careful when dealing with old martial world veterans.
Since he had no intention of hiding it anyway, he answered without hesitation.
“That is correct. However, I am not acting solely for profit. You may or may not know this, but Sister Rang’s lover is sworn brothers with me.”
“……”
“First, I must ask what I am curious about. How did you discover this old man’s identity?”
Because in my previous life, rumors spread after you caused a bloody catastrophe.
He could not possibly say that.
“Do you know that I was a beggar before being adopted into the Baek Family?”
“I know.”
“One of the things beggars do when they have nothing better to do is memorize the faces and personal information of wanted criminals with bounties on their heads.”
It was true. Even the Beggars’ Gang regularly provided such information.
That excuse was sufficient.
“I am currently using an altered appearance.”
Oh. So that was not his real face? I did not know that.
“You introduced yourself as Yeo Unhyeok. ‘Un’ meaning cloud and ‘hyeok’ meaning red. Human nature is simple. When people suddenly use a false name, they often make small changes based on their real one.”
Yanghwi added another explanation to make it more convincing.
“Furthermore, Sister Rang’s jade plaque. An ordinary person could never create something containing such exquisite craftsmanship and a unique ability. The moment I saw it, I naturally thought of the epithet Turning a Deer into a Horse and tested my guess.”
“……”
“You must have become certain after seeing my reaction.”
“That is correct.”
Yeo Unjeok gave a hollow laugh.
“I spent my entire life living cautiously, yet I lowered my guard because my opponent was a child.”
“It was not a mistake on your part, Elder. There is a saying that one should beware of women, the elderly, and children. It exists because those three are especially good at making others lower their guard.”
“That is true…… rather than being my mistake, it is because Young Master is exceptionally outstanding for your age. However, you are not without flaws. Did you post those notices knowing who Arang’s father might be?”
As expected, one had to deal with someone who had lived long.
He did not overlook even the smallest opening. His sharpness was remarkable.
“Truthfully, Elder’s appearance was an unexpected variable for me. My original plan was different. It is not important, so let us set that aside. Instead, why do you not hear the plan of this outstanding talent who far surpasses his age?”
Yeo Unjeok stared for a moment at Yanghwi, who wore a shameless smile.
Then he sighed.
“Judging by your stubbornness, this old man will not obtain what he wants unless he listens to you. Speak.”
“Let me begin by making one thing clear. The greatest purpose of my plan is Sister Rang’s happiness. As a member of the Baek Family, a righteous clan, I swear this to you. You may trust me.”
“This old man will decide that for himself.”
“Very well. To get straight to the point, I intend to make the Black Path factions turn against each other.”
“You have cut off too many possible heads and tails already. How exactly do you intend to do that?”
Yanghwi pulled out a fragment of his thirty years of future memories.
Yeo Unjeok. In my previous life…… you used the very reason you became an enemy of the martial world to cause a bloody catastrophe in the Red Bridge Gang.
Originally, Turning a Deer into a Horse, Yeo Unjeok, was not a martial artist.
He had made a living restoring ancient books and artifacts that were hundreds of years old.
But the difference between restoration and forgery was only a single step. Yeo Unjeok possessed the ability to make even freshly created books appear as if they had existed for centuries.
And that ability brought him the misfortune that ruined his life.
More than twenty years from now, he would become involved in the Bloody Incident of the Sword King’s Tomb.
You received a huge commission to forge dozens of treasure maps for wealthy young masters to use as entertainment, never knowing that the mastermind behind it was the Bloodshed Alliance.
The Bloodshed Alliance, the strongest faction of the Black Path and ruler of Guizhou Province.
At the time, the Bloodshed Alliance was engaged in fierce tension with several righteous factions in Hunan Province, including the Huangbo Family.
Then the Bloodshed Alliance devised a scheme.
They used forged treasure maps to lure righteous martial artists into a trap and massacre them all.
The plan succeeded completely, and the incident would later be remembered as the Bloody Incident of the Sword King’s Tomb.
Because of that, one of the Five Great Clans, the Huangbo Family, collapsed, and the righteous factions of Hunan Province remain scattered and broken even now. And Yeo Unjeok became an enemy of the martial world.
In some ways, he was a pitiful old man.
He had only accepted money for work without knowing anything, yet he earned the hatred of the righteous path and became an enemy of the martial world.
Because of that, he lost his wife and was separated from his young daughter.
In my previous life, you died alongside the bloody catastrophe you caused. In this life, I will let you spend your remaining years happily with your daughter. In return, become a force for the Baek Family.
“I will spread martial manuals.”
“Martial manuals?”
Yeo Unjeok’s expression hardened.
“You seem to have guessed the reason this old man became an enemy of the martial world, but I do not know any martial art that could serve as bait.”
“It does not matter. The manuals you create and spread will not contain martial arts. They will contain methods to break them.”
In his previous life, Yanghwi had tried to encounter countless martial arts in order to improve his inherited techniques.
Naturally, that included the martial arts of the Black Path factions located in Agan County.
I fought them countless times and learned all their principles. Creating methods to counter them will be as easy as eating cold porridge.
Yanghwi grinned.
*****
Seven days later.
Baek Family Manor received an unwelcome visitor in broad daylight.
“Brother Gu. Our Baek Family Manor is a righteous faction in name and deed. Are you not visiting a little too often?”
“Younger Brother! Rather than praising my patience for waiting ten whole days instead of the promised three, you say something like that?”
Seeing him huff with a face red from anger, Yanghwi wondered if Blood Face should have been his epithet instead of Blood Axe.
“Regardless, welcome. I actually have something to tell you as well.”
Yanghwi guided Gu Ak to Rangrang’s residence.
“Darling!”
“Rangrang!”
The reunited lovers enjoyed their long-awaited meeting after ten days apart, and once they had finished, Gu Ak held one of Rangrang’s hands and looked at Yanghwi.
“So how is your plan going, Younger Brother? When is the Peak Realm expert you promised going to appear?”
“Hm? I never said I would bring a Peak Realm expert.”
“What?”
Before Gu Ak could explode in anger and forget that Rangrang was standing right beside him, Yanghwi quickly continued.
“I said I would bring someone who could kill a Peak Realm expert.”
“Isn’t that the same thing?!”
“How could killing someone only involve martial prowess? There are poisons, money, and countless other methods. Ah, speaking of which, the two of you should talk for a moment.”
Only after leaving Rangrang’s residence so she could not hear did Yanghwi continue.
“Did you know?”
“Know what?”
“Judging by your question, you did not. Sister Rang has been poisoned.”
Gu Ak’s face immediately twisted into the expression of a ferocious demon.
“Whoa, whoa. Before you lose your temper, listen to the rest of what I have to say. You know that my mother, the lady of the manor of this family, has not been in good health and that physicians visit regularly.”
“My patience is not unlimited. Speak quickly.”
What a temper.
Yanghwi immediately continued.
“Sister Rang’s complexion seemed especially poor, so I had her pulse examined. The physician told me she had been poisoned. You are welcome to call another physician and confirm it yourself.”
“……Rangrang was really being poisoned?”
“The poison itself is weak, but it is a chronic poison. If she continues receiving it regularly, it will eventually kill her. It is no wonder Brother Gu did not notice.”
Even when Gu Ak had been drinking tea with Rangrang in her residence moments ago, he had sensed nothing unusual.
The poison was so faint that even Yanghwi would not have noticed it without his unusually sharp senses.
“The person who ordered her poisoning…… I suppose there is no need to search far.”
“……”
Gu Ak could not bring himself to continue.
There was only one person who would poison Rangrang.
His own father—the Red Bridge Gang Leader.
“Father…… how could Father……”
“Most likely because Sister Rang was an obstacle. He wanted to remove her and proceed with your political marriage. Or perhaps…… he intended to use Sister Rang as a hostage to control you.”
Among the Red Bridge Gang Leader’s children, Gu Ak was the only one to have reached the first-rate level.
He had reached the first-rate level before turning thirty, and he was talented enough that he might even break through the wall into the Peak Realm.
And since ancient times, a ruler’s greatest rival had always been his own child.
“Haha…… hahahahaha.”
Gu Ak laughed emptily.
The hollow expression on his face slowly changed into another emotion.
Something deeper.
Something hotter.
The emotion known as rage.
Good. With this, Gu Ak is on my side.
“Brother Gu. This is not the time to make the Red Bridge Gang Leader acknowledge Sister Rang.”
“Yeah…… you are right.”
“Do you want to protect Sister Rang?”
Gu Ak turned his head toward Rangrang’s residence.
A deep longing filled his eyes.
“Rangrang…… she was the reason I could endure those days that were so suffocating they felt like hell. For her…… I would do anything.”
Yanghwi had thought Gu Ak had simply fallen in love after becoming an adult and visiting pleasure houses.
But it seemed there was a far more painful story behind it.
Perhaps the reason Gu Ak has a decent heart despite being a Black Path fighter is because of Rangrang.
Thinking that, Yanghwi continued.
“Brother Gu. Then there is only one way.”