Chapter 82

Xiaowumen (下汚門).

As the name suggests, it was a sect composed of people who had fallen to the very bottom of society, such as petty thieves, courtesans, and vagrants. Unlike other sects that meticulously screened their disciples based on character, physical strength, family wealth, and other factors, Xiaowumen accepted anyone, regardless of their background.

Thus, the number of disciples in Xiaowumen far exceeded that of any other force. The vast amount of information they gathered was both their strength and means of survival. It was said that just as Kaifang was the representative information organization of the righteous factions, Xiaowumen was the counterpart of the evil factions.

The greatest secret of Xiaowumen was that everything about its leader was shrouded in mystery. It was rumored that even the leader of Kaifang did not know who the leader of Xiaowumen was.

Yet, Joo Dae-il was the leader of Xiaowumen.

Yoo Shin-won's words were truly hard to believe.

"Excuse me? What do you mean by that?"

Joo Dae-il's face was filled with confusion, showing no signs of panic or emotional change.

It seemed he genuinely did not understand the meaning of Yoo Shin-won's words.

Even Yoo Shin-won was almost deceived by this.

'His acting skills are astonishing.'

He then smiled and said to Joo Dae-il, who was trying to deny it.

"At first, I was also skeptical. After all, someone who should be in Xuchang came to our escort agency for an interview."

For a moment, Joo Dae-il's calm demeanor wavered when he heard the word "Xuchang."

Seizing the moment, Yoo Shin-won pressed on.

"Will you believe me now? Joo Dae-il, or rather, Sect Leader Shin Woo-yang."

Pah!

As Yoo Shin-won finished speaking, he suddenly leaped to the side, spinning in mid-air.

Upon landing, he held two willow-leaf-like throwing knives in his hands.

Yoo Shin-won exhaled and said,

"These are the famous silent flying knives. I couldn't even see them being thrown; your skills are truly remarkable."

As he finished speaking, a flying knife suddenly flew into his field of vision, which he dodged with superhuman reflexes.

Joo Dae-il's face, which had always been smiling, now resembled that of a ferocious beast.

"How... how did you know?"

This was the moment when the identity of the first-ever revealed leader of Xiaowumen, the Faceless Guest (無面客), was exposed.

Silence filled the room.

Amidst this, Joo Dae-il, or rather, Shin Woo-yang, was frantically thinking.

"This is impossible! No one in the world knows my true identity."

Xiaowumen was structured as a thorough point organization. Even if someone tried to infiltrate, they could never penetrate beyond a certain point.

The first sect leader's policy was that the lives of the members were guaranteed only if strict secrecy was maintained among them.

This policy applied even to the leadership.

Shin Woo-yang issued all orders through letters.

When he had to reveal himself, he used the Bone Storage Technique (蓄骨功) and Face Changing Technique (易容術) to appear in different forms each time.

Thus, no one knew Shin Woo-yang's true appearance or name.

However, Shin Woo-yang's frustration was not just about his identity being exposed.

"Damn! How much do you know? If the hiding place in Xuchang has been discovered, it's a disaster."

In Xuchang, Henan Province, there was a secret location where Xiaowumen members, whose identities had been exposed and were being hunted, were protected.

If this information were to be leaked, the numerous Xiaowumen members hiding there would be massacred.

Therefore, he had tried to end Yoo Shin-won's life with a decisive move, but his silent flying knives were easily deflected.

This was the first time his attack, known as one of the three great assassins in the martial world, had failed so miserably.

After a cold calculation, he decided to abandon the full-scale confrontation.

There was no chance of winning. The power of an assassin whose ambush had failed was drastically reduced.

Regardless of Shin Woo-yang's thoughts, Yoo Shin-won remained calm.

Shin Woo-yang, suppressing his anger, said,

"If you're trying to coerce me into using Xiaowumen, it's best to give up now."

In the martial world, information was power and authority.

Many forces had coveted Xiaowumen, always wanting it to be their slave, causing the Xiaowumen members to suffer twice.

However, Yoo Shin-won shook his head and said something completely different.

"No. I want an 'alliance' between Baegun Escort Agency and Xiaowumen."

Yoo Shin-won wanted an alliance with Xiaowumen.

The reason was simple.

Based on his memories of the future, he had taken actions that were gradually changing the future. To navigate these changes, an excellent information organization was essential.

Shin Woo-yang did not believe Yoo Shin-won's words about an alliance.

He dismissed it as mere flattery to deceive him.

With a sneer, he said,

"What will you do if I refuse?"

At that moment, Yoo Shin-won's demeanor changed dramatically.

His eyes turned cold and merciless, making Shin Woo-yang flinch.

"Can you refuse?"

Yoo Shin-won spoke coldly, implying that Shin Woo-yang should understand his situation.

Shin Woo-yang swallowed the words that were about to escape his lips.

'If I refuse here...'

From his brief observation, Yoo Shin-won was someone who had a broad heart for allies but was merciless to enemies.

He couldn't imagine what Yoo Shin-won would do, but one thing was clear: the Xiaowumen members across the country would suffer immense losses.

His face turned pale.

At that moment, Yoo Shin-won, having laid the whip aside, offered a carrot.

"But if the alliance benefits only one side, it cannot be called equal. Therefore, I will also offer conditions that will benefit Xiaowumen."

What could he be proposing?

Shin Woo-yang's eyes showed confusion.

Seeing his silence, Yoo Shin-won continued,

"My conditions are two. First, I will inform you of the culprit behind the continuous disappearances of Xiaowumen members."

Shin Woo-yang pretended not to know and asked,

"Disappearances? What do you mean?"

"How long will you keep acting? Didn't you come to Zhejiang to follow the clues of the continuous disappearances of Xiaowumen members?"

Many Xiaowumen members were among the women kidnapped by the Nine Dragons Gang. Like Tang Haling and Zhuge Jun, he had been tracking the clues and joined Baegun Escort Agency as a bodyguard.

Shin Woo-yang was surprised in a different way.

It seemed Yoo Shin-won had already uncovered the identity and clues of the culprit, which Xiaowumen's vast information network had failed to find.

Yoo Shin-won continued,

"The second condition is that I will bring the exposed Xiaowumen members back into the light."

"!"

Shin Woo-yang's pupils trembled violently for the first time.

Supporting the exposed informants was the most challenging task he had been working on since becoming the sect leader.

Despite his efforts, he had seen no results, leading to despair.

Yoo Shin-won continued,

"Can you think that the size of an organization can bring the members into the light?"

"!"

"Whether you are the lord of a city or the leader of a national alliance, such titles are irrelevant. What matters is the method."

Shin Woo-yang's mouth tightened.

Yoo Shin-won's words had struck a nerve.

"I will fill all new bodyguards and trackers in the Baegun Escort Agency branches to be established in each province with Xiaowumen members."

"!"

"I will teach them all the basic martial arts and other skills provided to bodyguards, and even if these skills are leaked to Xiaowumen, I will take no action."

Shin Woo-yang's pupils trembled as if hit by an earthquake.

One of Xiaowumen's greatest weaknesses was the lack of martial arts training. Most of their skills were focused on espionage, and they had no valuable martial arts.

'The martial arts provided to bodyguards must be the Fire Lotus Technique.'

He had read the martial arts manual provided to bodyguards and understood its value.

Though it was a basic martial art, it was very stable and effective. If Xiaowumen members could learn such martial arts, they would have the strength to protect themselves from threats.

Moreover, living as bodyguards would allow the exposed Xiaowumen members to live a second life.

As the solution to his long-standing problem became clear, Shin Woo-yang's expression gradually brightened.

His gaze towards Yoo Shin-won had become softer.

Finally, Shin Woo-yang, having made his decision, spoke in a low voice,

"If the identities of Xiaowumen members are revealed, your reputation will be ruined. Are you sure you're okay with that?"

Shin Woo-yang's words were almost a confirmation of acceptance.

Yoo Shin-won raised his head and replied,

"Rather than a superficial reputation, I choose to give hope to those at the end of their lives."

"!"

Shin Woo-yang, reading the sincerity in Yoo Shin-won's unwavering eyes, could not hide his trembling heart.

No one had ever treated them without prejudice.

Shin Woo-yang, feeling relieved, said,

"To establish branches, we first need to pacify Zhejiang. Are you confident?"

Yoo Shin-won smiled confidently and replied,

"One month. I will make Zhejiang mine within that time."

Impressed by his boldness,

"Huh, to propose such an irresistible deal, I have no choice."

Shin Woo-yang extended his hand, and Yoo Shin-won shook it.

This was the moment the first alliance of Baegun Escort Agency was born.

Martial World's Reincarnated Top Ranker