Chapter 232: The Return of the Scoundrel (2)
The headquarters of Salmun in Chang’an.
It was an empty, dim warehouse, but it now possessed a rather respectable appearance.
It was furnished with an office desk and maps, training equipment for martial arts, and a flag depicting a black rabbit stood at the very back.
All of this was the handiwork of Yang So-cheong, who had been appointed as the Chief Administrator.
She was the oldest of the group, possessing a brilliant mind that had even astonished the Assassin King.
Yang So-cheong was at the headquarters today as well, planning the sect’s development. She was a child harboring a grand ambition to change the world from this base.
“From now on, you must never mention the name of Salmun. Understood?”
Sitting at the desk, Yang So-cheong spoke to two children standing before her, both wearing black robes embroidered with a rabbit.
They were Yeong-yeong and Baek-sang, who were, as usual, preparing for their sparring practice.
“Sister So-cheong. Then what should we call ourselves?”
Yang So-cheong looked at the flag beside the desk and said with a bright smile, “Let’s go with the name So-so’s mother gave us.”
Yeong-yeong and Baek-sang knew exactly what she meant.
Yeon Seo-hwa, who occasionally came to spy on them, would share snacks with the children.
There was a name she used to call them playfully.
“The Black Rabbit Sect!”
“Yes, that’s right. Keep my words in mind. Salmun has many enemies in the Jianghu, so we must not reveal our identity until we are ready.”
Yeong-yeong and Baek-sang nodded in unison.
“Yes, Chief Administrator. But I think someone is outside.”
Yang So-cheong seemed to know who it was. With a brightened expression, she called out toward the entrance, “Come in, guys!”
Creak—!
Two scruffy young beggars entered.
They looked to be about ten years old, and each had a single knot tied around his waist.
They were one-knot disciples, the lowest rank of the Beggars’ Sect.
“Hello, sister.”
“You told us to come, so we did…”
Nodding, Yang So-cheong gestured for the beggars to come closer. She then pulled out two dumplings she had prepared under the desk and handed one to each of them.
“You found the place. Hungry?”
They were children who were always starving.
It was a pitiful sight to watch them grin and wolf down the dumplings. Even Yeong-yeong and Baek-sang smiled warmly by their side.
“But sister So-cheong, why are you so nice to us?”
“Do I need a reason? I just want to be friends.”
The beggars of the Beggars’ Sect had no reason to refuse.
“Hehe. Great.”
“They say the best friend in the world is the one who gives you food.”
Yang So-cheong nodded and casually asked, “Any interesting news today?”
The young beggars of the Beggars’ Sect were the sole information network of the Black Rabbit Sect.
How much information could mere one-knot disciples know? But one couldn’t expect results overnight; a journey of a thousand li begins with a single step.
For now, their main goal was simply to grasp the current state of the world.
“Hehe, of course. Today, some young nuns appeared in the market, beat up some merchants, stole food, and ran away.”
Nuns referred to female monastics who practiced Buddhism.
Young nuns assaulting merchants and even stealing. This was not something that happened under normal circumstances. Something intriguing was unfolding.
“How bizarre.”
“They were crazy nuns. The government soldiers chased them but couldn’t catch them.”
Yang So-cheong chuckled and nodded. “Indeed, how amusing. If you hear any more interesting news, come visit the Black Rabbit Sect again. Got it?”
“Yes, sister. We should go now. We have to work.”
As soon as the beggars left, Yang So-cheong clasped her hands and fell into deep thought.
‘For young nuns to beat up merchants means they have trained in martial arts. If they could evade the government soldiers, it’s certain. And if it’s a group, the candidates are limited.’
Organizing her thoughts, Yang So-cheong looked at Yeong-yeong and asked, “Yeong-yeong, do you have any ideas?”
Yeong-yeong’s expression darkened. After all, she was the child who had fled the Emei Sect along with So-so.
However, her face showed no fear. Yeong-yeong was no longer running away.
“I think I know who they are, sister.”
How many nuns in the world would commit such madness? Yeong-yeong was certain.
“Is it Emei after all?”
“Hwa-ryeong’s gang…”
“The mean girls you mentioned before.”
Yeong-yeong nodded. “Yeah. I think they came to catch So-so.”
After pondering for a moment, Yang So-cheong spoke with a serious look, “I have a bad feeling about this. You two should go to So-so right now and tell her to be careful.”
“Understood.”
“We’ll be right back, Chief Administrator.”
***
Sitting on the wooden veranda of their house, Yeon Seo-hwa was carving a peach with a fruit knife.
“You have to go back this evening?”
So-mu sat cross-legged opposite her.
Lately, he had been spending busy days tirelessly traveling between Chang’an and Luoyang. Though he could send carrier pigeons, moving in person was dozens of times faster and more reliable, leaving him with no choice in urgent situations.
“Yeah. I have to go tonight and return tomorrow.”
“What is keeping you so busy?”
So-mu sighed and said, “We need to keep the allied troops stationed here for at least a year. To do that, we need to arrange military funds, but it’s not easy. I’m looking for a way.”
Although the State of So’s finances were abundant, approvals from the relevant departments were delayed due to heavy expenditures from recent relief efforts.
Seo-hwa handed him a slice of peach carved into the shape of a flower bud and asked, “How much do you need?”
“…Huh?”
“I asked how much military funding you need.”
So-mu’s voice remained somber. “We’ll need about ten thousand taels of silver. Why?”
“Is that all? Come up to Mount Yangzhu this evening. I’ll give you the ten thousand taels.”
“This is no time for jokes.”
He still did not know the true extent of his wife’s wealth. How could he have imagined that the richest person in the Central Plains was right before his eyes? He had only assumed she had saved up a little pocket money.
For her, it was money she wouldn’t hesitate to give to her husband at any time. She had no intention of hiding it; there had simply been no need to bring it up, so she had set it aside and forgotten about it.
Just as Seo-hwa was about to speak again—
The gate to the courtyard burst open, and two familiar children appeared.
It was Yeong-yeong and Baek-sang, clad in their black robes with rabbit emblems.
“Our Black Rabbits, what brings you here?”
Looking around, Baek-sang hurriedly asked So-mu, “Hello, Mister! Where did So-so go?”
“She probably went to the market. She left a little while ago to buy some tanghulu.”
“Really? Okay. Goodbye!”
Making eye contact, Baek-sang and Yeong-yeong bowed and vanished like the wind.
So-mu quickly shouted after them, “Don’t cause any trouble and play nicely!”
But his words were already ignored.
Yeong-yeong and Baek-sang dashed toward the market, even utilizing their lightfoot techniques.
“What should we do? Will she be alright?”
Baek-sang nodded and replied, “So-so has gotten incredibly strong lately. She even lasted nearly ten minutes sparring with the Sect Leader.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Fights between assassins usually ended in an instant. Of course, the Assassin King had held back, but surviving for nearly ten minutes was a tremendous achievement.
And the nuns Yeong-yeong remembered were no match for So-so.
However, they did not know that Hwa-ryeong had also grown stronger just as So-so had.
Arriving at the market shortly after, the two searched everywhere. Before long, they picked up a trail.
Baek-sang whispered in a quiet voice, “Up there, on top of the Taewung Gang building.”
On the roof of the two-story pavilion, four nuns stood with their arms crossed. They were looking around as if searching for someone.
Looking up at them, Yeong-yeong said, “That’s right. It’s them.”
“They don’t look that strong.”
“That’s because Hwa-ryeong isn’t with them.”
“How strong is she?”
“Even the Emei Sword Guards avoided her to keep from crossing paths.”
The Hwa-ryeong in Yeong-yeong’s memory was so formidable that even the elite sword guards of the Emei Sect kept their distance.
Now, it was likely impossible for anyone below the rank of an elder to control her.
“We need to find So-so first.”
After pondering for a moment, Yeong-yeong made up her mind. “I’ll lure them away. You find So-so and head back to the headquarters first.”
“Will you be alright?”
“Yeah. Don’t worry.”
Exchanging signals, the two split up.
Stepping onto the main street, Yeong-yeong subtly let her qi leak as she walked.
It was instantly picked up by the nuns on the roof.
Perhaps because there were too many witnesses, they didn’t react immediately. Realizing this, Yeong-yeong left the market and headed toward a secluded alley.
A moment later, just as she reached a dead end—
“Look at this. She even grew her hair out.”
Turning around, Yeong-yeong saw the four nuns blocking the exit.
She could easily scale the wall to escape, but Yeong-yeong had no intention of running.
How could she forget? These were the very faces of those who had beaten her before she escaped the Emei Sect.
“Where is the brat you escaped with from Mount Emei? You’d better speak quickly if you want to live. Hwa-ryeong is furious right now.”
“Why are you looking for my friend?”
The largest nun stepped forward. She was twice Yeong-yeong’s size.
Soon, a hand like a pig’s trotter reached out to grab her by the hair.
But Yeong-yeong was not about to stand still.
Whoosh!
With a slight twist of her torso, the plump fingers missed her by a hair.
“Oh? You dodged it?”
She tried again, but the result was the same.
Yeong-yeong’s movements were completely different now. She was a child who had undergone a marrow-cleansing rebirth after consuming Salmun’s treasure, the Pill of Rebirth.
The nuns’ attacks looked incredibly sluggish, full of openings.
Seizing the moment their balance faltered, Yeong-yeong clenched her fist and feigned a strike.
“Eek!”
Her opponent instinctively flinched into a defensive stance. But no attack followed.
Despite her desire, she could not bring herself to strike. The fear ingrained in her from years of abuse ran too deep.
“What are you doing? Attack together!”
All four nuns lunged at her at once.
Pushed onto the defensive, Yeong-yeong shielded her face with both arms and began to endure a barrage of blows.
Thud! Crack! Whack!
It was a small mercy that none of them drew their swords.
Fists and feet flew relentlessly from all directions.
Enduring such beatings was something she was all too familiar with.
The physical pain was nothing compared to the agony of the past memories she wished to bury.
Then, Yeong-yeong’s memory conjured the image of So-so, who had come to the Emei Sect.
‘I want to stop this, So-so. What should I do…?’
Suddenly, she remembered something So-so had once said.
Her gaze shifting, Yeong-yeong softly murmured, “She said bad guys need to be beaten up…”
At that moment, her small fist struck out for the first time.
Bam—!
The largest nun was sent flying through the air.
It was a single blow. Her lips and nose were covered in blood, and her eyes rolled back as she blacked out.
The remaining three, who had been attacking relentlessly, recoiled in shock.
“W-Who are you?”
“What did you just do? Are you insane?”
Dropping her defensive stance, Yeong-yeong looked bewildered herself.
For some reason, she felt a liberating sense of relief washing over her chest.
The first step is always the hardest. After that, there was nothing to hold her back.
“So-so was right. You guys need to be taught a lesson.”
Instantly, Yeong-yeong’s feet left the ground. Her movement was like an arrow shot from a bow.
Her small palm shot upward, slamming into the chin of the nearest nun.
Crack!
The opponent collapsed to the ground without even a scream.
Even before she hit the ground, another fist flew from the left.
Easily catching the wrist, Yeong-yeong twisted it ruthlessly.
“Aaaah!”
The nun’s body bent forward like a shrimp, and Yeong-yeong’s hand struck the exposed back of her neck.
Thud!
The last remaining nun backed away step by step, a look of disbelief on her face.
“W-What are you? Don’t you know who we are?”
“I know very well. You beat and tormented me every single day.”
As Yeong-yeong stepped closer, the nun retreated in tandem.
Thump!
It was the sound of her back hitting the wall.
A moment later, the nun’s face twisted in sheer terror. It was not because of Yeong-yeong standing in front of her.
A suffocating murderous intent that could freeze one to the bone.
Feeling a sudden chill run down her spine, Yeong-yeong quickly turned around.
“What a load of bullshit.”