Chapter 8

Reincarnation of the Devil (8)

"Then it's my turn to ask questions. Why did you try to destroy this academy, which my father runs?"

"Hehe. So, if it wasn't me but an ordinary commoner, it would be fine to just kill and take, right? Have you ever seen such a scoundrel? For our Pang family to be at this level..."

According to Pang Yizhong, the Pang family originally had a grudge against the Murong family, and especially the elders of the council looked down on the last remaining Murong bloodline, Murong Xie.

One day, when the Pang family started recruiting people, those who had learned the basic techniques of the Pang family appeared. Tracing their internal energy back, it led to Murong Xie, and the elders were furious, accusing the Pang family of selling their techniques recklessly.

Of course, this was something that Elder Pang Qimen, who was a young master of the family, had done with the head of the family's permission, entrusting Murong Xie with the task. However, the elders' hatred for Murong was uncontrollable.

"Run away?"

Pang Yizhong, who had cautiously put his hands in his sleeves, took out a letter and a bag full of silver coins.

Pang Yizhong's words left Murong Jin a bit flustered.

He had thought of him as a scoundrel, a ruffian, a bully, but it turned out he was a savior trying to save Murong Xie.

As the saying goes, even a rotten fish has its good points; the righteous sect was still a righteous sect.

A sect that knew what righteousness and chivalry were.

'That's why I became the leader of the righteous sect. When it comes to righteousness and chivalry, it's me, Tian Jilin.'

What kind of nonsense was the devil spouting, who used to take everything he liked and destroy everything he didn't?

When Murong Jin checked the letter, it was filled with Pang Qimen's concerns for Murong Xie.

It read like a letter to a cherished friend.

I folded the letter and returned it to Pang Yizhong.

"I misunderstood you. You are a proud son of the Pang family. You should present this letter to my father yourself. We need to clear up this misunderstanding."

"Ah, I clearly said it."

"No, we have no intention of leaving here."

"This academy has been run by my father's efforts and sacrifices. Why should we leave when we have done nothing wrong? We are upright and will not leave this place."

"Child, don't worry. Who am I? I am Tian Jilin, the invincible."

Murong Jin approached Pang Yizhong, placed his hand on his shoulder, and smiled like a child.

"I'll take care of everything."

* * *

The Northern Pang Family.

Located a considerable distance from Zhengxia Village, the inner courtyard of the Northern Pang Family, the dominant force in Hebei, boasted an immense height and width befitting its title.

Right behind the magnificent main hall.

This circular building, located in the shadow of the main hall, was called the Council Hall.

It was where the elders and council members of the Northern Pang Family resided, and in many ways, it was more heavily guarded than the main hall.

Pang Yizhong, having been saluted by the guards at the Council Hall, knocked on the door of the inner room where Pang Qimen's memorial tablet hung.

"Come in."

Pang Yizhong opened the door at the sound of Pang Qimen's voice and immediately bowed to him.

"I greet Elder Pang Qimen of the family."

"That's enough. I've already read the letter that arrived first. So, Murong Xie really doesn't intend to leave?"

"Yes. And according to the letter, he plans to respond as instructed."

"Indeed, with that method, even the furious elders will have no choice..."

The method was to stop teaching the Pang family's techniques at the Murong Academy.

If that happened, the initial reason for pushing Murong Xie would disappear, leaving the elders without a reason to act.

"Is Murong Xie really going to quit the academy? Then how does he plan to make a living... It would be better for him and his son to take the money and move to another region..."

"He has taken the money, saying that the academy needs to be rebuilt because I destroyed it."

"Rebuild the academy? But he said he wouldn't teach the Pang family's techniques. How does he plan to run the academy then...?"

"Rebuilding is one thing, but it doesn't seem like Murong Xie will run the academy."

"What? What do you mean by that?"

"Murong Xie's son, Murong Jin. He said he will run the academy from now on."

Pang Qimen, hearing this from Pang Yizhong, scratched his ear, wondering if he had heard correctly.

But no matter how many times he asked, Pang Yizhong's answer was the same.

"Ah... What is Murong Xie thinking...? I understand for now. Nothing will happen for a while. As you know, our family has been very busy with the Bloodline Sect for the past few days, so the elders won't have time to focus on this."

"Yes."

As Pang Yizhong bowed and was about to leave, Pang Qimen grabbed his hand and slightly bowed his head.

"I have a very sorry request to make to you, Third Young Master. Can you keep an eye on the Murong Academy for a while? I feel very sorry to ask this of you, Third Young Master, but Murong Xie is a benefactor to me. I beg you to do this for me."

Pang Yizhong, seeing Pang Qimen about to bow, grabbed his shoulder and shook his head.

"It's fine, Uncle. Your benefactor is also my benefactor. You don't need to feel so sorry. I also have some business in Zhengxia Village, so I can keep an eye on it while I'm there."

"Thank you. I really appreciate it."

Pang Qimen sighed with a look of regret as he watched Pang Yizhong leave.

"Ah... Third Young Master, you are truly the one who will lead our family in the future..."

* * *

After Pang Yizhong left for the Pang family, Murong Jin was facing off with Murong Xie.

The misunderstanding between Pang Yizhong and Pang Qimen had been cleared, but what Murong Jin said afterward was too absurd for Murong Xie to accept.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, of course. Father, I'm always serious."

What Murong Jin said to Murong Xie.

He asked to take over the management of the Murong Academy.

Moreover, Murong Xie was to retire as a teacher.

And to top it off, Murong Jin offered to teach him martial arts himself.

At first, Murong Xie thought it was just a joke, but now Murong Jin was serious and even suggested a sparring match.

If he won, he wanted Murong Xie to do as he said.

Murong Jin said this was the only way he could survive and that it would also be good for Murong Xie.

"Are you really asking me to duel with my son, who is suffering from the Gouyang Meridian! My son, whom I love so much that I can't bear to see him in pain?!"

"Ah, put that Eight Immortals aside for now. Father, you know I've been cultivating internal energy despite my Gouyang Meridian. I've achieved something that seems impossible. Can't you believe me just once?"

That's true.

A child suffering from the Gouyang Meridian had cultivated internal energy and become healthy.

This was already an impossible feat, but Murong Jin had even managed to sneak behind First-Rate Warrior Pang Yizhong and successfully attack him.

A story no one would believe.

But Murong Jin had done it.

"However... Ah. Where does such confidence come from? Did you perhaps have a fortuitous encounter?"

A fortuitous encounter (奇缘) means a strange and fortunate encounter.

In the martial world, it refers to situations like meeting a master by chance or obtaining rare medicinal herbs.

Murong Xie said this out of exasperation, having no grounds to refute Murong Jin's claims.

But...

"Yes! That's exactly it."

As if waiting for this, Murong Jin began his long tale of a fortuitous encounter.

In fact, Murong Jin had been waiting for Murong Xie to mention a fortuitous encounter.

Naturally, he was thoroughly prepared, so his lies flowed smoothly and convincingly.

An incredible lie that could never come from an eleven-year-old.

That's why Murong Xie couldn't help but believe Murong Jin's long tale of a fortuitous encounter.

"Is that true? You secretly went on a mountain trip, found a cave, and there was a nameless recluse?"

"To be precise, there were the remains of a recluse. In front of him were an unknown secret manual and pills, which I read and consumed."

"And when I consumed the pills, the cave collapsed, and the secret manual and remains were swept away by the cliff?"

"Yes. It was dangerous, but fortunately, I managed to escape and became even healthier because of it."

Murong Xie couldn't help but gulp at Murong Jin's straightforward tale of a fortuitous encounter.

He wanted to scold him for going to such a dangerous place, but it was true that he had become healthier because of it.

"Alright. Let's say you became healthier. But even if I give you the Murong Academy, what exactly do you plan to teach? You only read the secret manual once. How can you...?"

At Murong Xie's words, the corners of Murong Jin's mouth curled up, and he twisted his body as if in pain, placing his finger on his lips.

"Hmm? Isn't it true that anyone can remember everything after reading it once? When I read something, it stays in my head. It's strange... Father, isn't it the same for you? After all, a secret manual is just a few hundred pages of paper."

Oh, what bad luck.