Chapter 67

One

Tonight was far from peaceful.

“Hahaha!”

“Yuhaha!”

In the spacious courtyard of Tianmucai, boisterous laughter echoed, nearly shaking the mountain lodge.

At the center, a bonfire crackled, and the faces of the Green Forest Bandits, flushed from the fire, were continuously raising their wine cups.

Among them were Youshenyun and the members of Zhengyun Pavilion.

“Pant, pant! Why won’t this guy give in?”

“The Kunlun Old Men are said to be as strong as wild horses; it’s true.”

“Haha, Malu has won again. You guys are too weak.”

Malu was continuously arm wrestling with the men known for their strength in the mountain lodge.

Huanglao, on the other hand, had moved away from the noisy courtyard and was quietly resting alone.

“...And thus, we broke through the vicious Black Sand Whirlwind and passed the second gate.”

“Wow! I can’t believe it. The secret cave of the Ten Thousand Transformations Master was in our mountain!”

“Are you surprised by that! What’s surprising is that these little brothers broke through the cave!”

“That’s true. You guys really risked your lives.”

“Burp! Come, come, it’s not over yet! The grand final gate! The genius strategist Sima Jun will dismantle the formation of the Ten Thousand Transformations Master!”

“Oh, dismantled the formation of the Ten Thousand Transformations Master!”

“This is going to be interesting, very interesting! Come, have another drink and let’s hear more of the story.”

Zhuge Jun, already drunk with his eyes half-closed, was entertaining the Green Forest Bandits.

Only Tang Haling, who hadn’t touched a single cup of wine, was looking at Youshenyun with a gaze that seemed to be trying to figure out his true identity.

‘Really, he’s staring at me so intensely.’

Youshenyun pretended not to notice and poured the potent wine from his cup down his throat.

“Gulp!”

Enjoying the burning sensation in his throat, Youshenyun showed a satisfied expression.

‘Yes, this is the taste.’

At that moment, Youshenyun realized that this was the first time he had truly relaxed and enjoyed a drink in this world, having been breathless from the constant activities.

When he drank at the brothel before, it was part of a plan, and he couldn’t fully enjoy it.

“Haha, little brother, you drink better than I expected.”

Dong Nanjiang, sitting opposite him, refilled his empty cup and said.

‘But does this guy have some kind of alcohol resistance in his body?’

Despite drinking an entire bottle, Dong Nanjiang showed no signs of being drunk.

Then, at that moment.

-...By the way, do you know that those two aren’t their real faces?

Dong Nanjiang sent a mental message while maintaining his expression.

He had been glancing at Zhuge Jun and Tang Haling, and noticed they were wearing face masks. Indeed, the eyes of a master at the Hua Jing level were different.

Youshenyun didn’t respond to the mental message but showed a bright smile on his face.

“Hmm, it was a needless worry.”

“Then, Lord Cai...”

“Tsk, what Lord Cai! Call me brother.”

Dong Nanjiang cut off Youshenyun’s words.

Youshenyun clicked his tongue, feeling quite awkward.

Dong Nanjiang’s offer of brotherhood was something he hadn’t expected at all.

‘Uncle. To call him brother, he’s a bit...’

Youshenyun was concerned about the significant age difference between him and Dong Nanjiang, but he couldn’t miss this good opportunity to have a future ally against the Blood Sect.

“Understood, brother.”

“Haha! Good, good!”

Thus, Youshenyun accepted the offer of brotherhood. In one night, he became a brother to one of the Ten Great Heroes of the world.

As they continued to drink, Youshenyun asked a sensitive question.

“Brother, do you plan to visit the Thousand Gold Hall?”

Dong Nanjiang, startled by the question, soon calmed down and spoke in a low voice.

“...Yes, I should visit once. There are still things I need to resolve.”

Youshenyun nodded slightly, hiding his inner surprise.

‘The martial world will certainly be in an uproar.’

Youshenyun knew the contents of the letter left by Jilun Ping, and could guess the aftermath of his visit.

“...But.”

Then, Dong Nanjiang swallowed and spoke.

“Are you really okay with the escort mission being considered a failure?”

Youshenyun had declared to Dong Nanjiang that he wouldn’t reveal that he had reached the summit of Tianmu Mountain or that the escort mission to the Thousand Gold Hall had been successful.

“I’ve said it many times. I’m really okay with it.”

Youshenyun waved his hand, but inside, he felt a deep sense of gratitude and guilt.

Dong Nanjiang felt a deep sense of gratitude and guilt at Youshenyun’s words.

Because of this decision, Youshenyun would be seen as a young upstart who attempted the Tianmu Mountain escort mission out of greed and failed miserably.

The shame he was willing to bear was deeply touching.

‘You truly have a deep heart. You already know that if the breakthrough of the mountain path is revealed, my position will be difficult.’

He was grateful for Youshenyun’s consideration of his position.

In fact, Youshenyun’s ascent to the summit of Tianmu Mountain had a greater impact than the successful completion of the escort mission to the Thousand Gold Hall.

One of the major lodges of the Green Forest Alliance had been completely infiltrated.

If this fact reached the ears of the other major lodge leaders, it would have a significant negative impact on him, who was targeting the chief of the Green Forest Alliance.

‘Cough! Personal honor is not a concern, but if Dao E (刀惡) uses this, it will be a major disaster...’

At that moment, the face of one of the major lodge leaders appeared in his mind. Sighing deeply, Dong Nanjiang spoke to Youshenyun.

“Phew! Little brother, you truly have a deep heart for your age.”

“Haha, you flatter me.”

“...But, since you’ve taken the lead in covering up my mistakes, as an older brother, I must do something in return.”

“Huh?”

Just as Youshenyun was tilting his head in confusion at Dong Nanjiang’s sudden words.

Bang!

Dong Nanjiang stomped his foot hard.

Swoosh!

The atmosphere became quiet as if cold water had been poured over it. All the Green Forest Bandits stopped what they were doing and focused on Dong Nanjiang’s words.

The members of Zhengyun Pavilion blinked in surprise at the sudden change in atmosphere.

“Brothers! You all know that little brother has refused a thousand gold and is willing to bear the shame for our honor.”

The Green Forest Bandits nodded solemnly.

“If we don’t sincerely repay little brother, who has given up a thousand gold, we will prove ourselves to be mere bandits!”

Bang!

Bang, bang!

In agreement, all the Green Forest Bandits began stomping their feet simultaneously.

Then, Dong Nanjiang made a surprising announcement.

“From today, little brother’s escort agency will be able to enter and exit all the mountains under my influence without any restrictions! Do you all agree?”

“...!”

Youshenyun’s face showed shock at Dong Nanjiang’s unexpected words.

Dong Nanjiang was the leader of all the mountain lodges in Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Anhui.

This meant that the Baiyun Escort Agency would not be inspected at any of the Green Forest lodges in these three provinces.

While the annual profit of the Thousand Gold Hall was already enormous, this would be an even more significant means of making huge profits in the long run.

What is the biggest factor that slows down the progress of escort missions?

It’s not natural disasters or anything else, but the conflicts and negotiations with the Green Forest lodges at key points.

No escort agency or merchant caravan had ever solved this problem so effectively.

‘This gives the Baiyun Escort Agency the opportunity to rapidly expand its influence beyond Zhejiang to other regions!’

Youshenyun tried to maintain his composure while inwardly celebrating.

He couldn’t help it.

This was like obtaining a powerful card that would greatly accelerate the expansion of his influence.

Dong Nanjiang smiled awkwardly and said.

“This is the best I can offer. Please don’t refuse and consider my face.”

He seemed worried that Youshenyun might reject the offer.

“Nonsense. Where can you find a better gift than this? I accept it with gratitude!”

Youshenyun had no intention of rejecting the offer. He quickly performed a bow to thank Dong Nanjiang, fearing that his mind might change.

Dong Nanjiang burst into hearty laughter.

“Yuhaha! Bring more wine! No one will sleep tonight!”

The night grew longer.

Two

‘Grunt!’

Tang Haling slowly regained consciousness. As the drowsiness from a good night’s sleep faded, the surroundings gradually came into view.

She was in a swaying carriage.

The next day after the seemingly endless banquet finally ended.

They had descended the mountain and were heading straight to the Baiyun Escort Agency in a carriage provided by Dong Nanjiang.

After a day of travel, it was already night again.

‘I must have passed out.’

She realized she had fallen asleep without a care and smiled bitterly.

It was probably due to the accumulated fatigue from the Ten Thousand Transformations Cave, but she had never shown such a relaxed side even in the Bi Ying Hall.

At that moment, she saw Malu and Huanglao sound asleep.

Perhaps, in this short time, she had felt a sense of camaraderie that she never experienced in the Bi Ying Hall.

That’s why she could sleep soundly even in the enemy’s camp.

‘...I don’t know, really.’

She shook her head and stood up in the swaying carriage.

“Mmm. One more cup.”

At that moment, Zhuge Jun mumbled in his sleep and grabbed her ankle with one hand.

Seeing his sprawled-out, unappealing face, she felt annoyed.

Squish!

“Grunt!”

She stepped on the hand that was holding her with a light stomp.

‘Wait, what?’

As she looked around the carriage, her face showed confusion. Youshenyun was nowhere to be seen.

“Are you awake?”

At that moment, a voice came from the driver’s seat.

She lifted the curtain and saw Youshenyun sitting there.

Without looking back, Youshenyun spoke.

“Go back to sleep. We’ll arrive soon.”

“...No, I’m fully awake.”

She hesitated for a moment, then gathered her courage and moved to the driver’s seat, sitting next to Youshenyun.

“Didn’t you sleep at all?”

“Yeah.”

They were silent for a while.

Tang Haling wanted to say “thank you” but ended up saying something completely different.

“...Why did you do that?”

“What?”

“You could have died.”

“Me?”

Youshenyun shrugged.

“I didn’t die.”

“...No one can survive without bleeding.”

Tang Haling’s voice trembled slightly for some reason.

Youshenyun turned his head slightly.

Looking at Tang Haling’s intensely serious face, he slowly took out an item from his robe.

‘That’s...’

It was the feather needle she had given him before entering the final gate.

“With a subordinate who worries about me and gives me such a useful weapon, what was I afraid of?”

Looking at Tang Haling, Youshenyun smiled for the first time.

Thump!

For some reason, her heart skipped a beat.

Youshenyun gently placed his hand on her shoulder.

“It’s narrow. Go back inside and sleep.”

She looked at Youshenyun with a wavering gaze.

Then, at that moment.

“...Hmm! But it really is spacious.”

Youshenyun removed his hand from her shoulder and looked ahead, muttering to himself.

Snap!

A vein popped on her forehead.

‘This guy!’

Just as she was about to get angry with a fierce expression.

‘Huh?’

Her expression turned to confusion.

Youshenyun’s face had suddenly turned as cold as ice.

Whoosh! Hoo!

“...Are they already here?”

A powerful aura was emanating from Youshenyun, who was looking into the distance.

“Tang Haling.”

“Yeah?”

“I’ll take the reins. Wake everyone up and get to the escort agency as quickly as possible.”

Swish!

With those words, Youshenyun’s figure shot forward at an incredible speed.

Martial World Reborn as a Legendary Player