A Strategy for Reviving Mount Hua

"Master, just tell me what you need your disciple to do."

Yue Buqun was so agitated that his index finger dug deeply into the flesh of Ji Boying's shoulder, causing him a dull ache. Ji Boying had no choice but to restrain the internal energy within him, lest he injure Yue Buqun's finger.

Yue Buqun adjusted his heavy breathing and regained his composure.

He had bottled up these worries for so many years, always putting on a dependable front before his wife and disciples.

Now that he had voiced a little of his weakness, he felt much better.

"I began thinking about these matters long ago. Without you, I might have gone down another wrong path."

"Not long ago, an Escort Leader from the Fuwei Escort Agency came to Mount Hua with gifts, so I adjusted our plans."

Yue Buqun did not say what wrong path he would have taken, but Ji Boying knew that he had likely set his sights on the Evil Warding Swordplay.

In the original story, Linghu Chong seemed to have beaten the Four Heroes of Qingcheng during the twelfth lunar month. Yue Buqun sent Laodeno to the Qingcheng Sect to offer an apology, only to discover that the Qingcheng Sect had set its sights on the Fuwei Escort Agency.

No one could say whether Yue Buqun's interest in the Evil Warding Swordplay began at that time.

But even Yu Canghai of the Qingcheng Sect had begun laying his plans early, and by the twelfth lunar month, he had already had all his disciples train the Evil Warding Swordplay to proficiency.

How could Yue Buqun, who had struggled bitterly for decades to revive the Mount Hua Sect, not have cast covetous eyes on the martial arts of other sects?

It was only natural that he had long harbored designs on the Bixie Sword Manual.

"To revive our Mount Hua Sect, the first thing we need is strength, and the second is money."

"With strength, we can defend the Mount Hua Sect, deter those petty scoundrels who dare not act, and eliminate the bandits who dare invade. We can protect Mount Hua's money, Mount Hua's land, Mount Hua's people, and Mount Hua's martial arts."

"With money, our Mount Hua Sect can support more people. We can take in disciples by the handful, recruit people by the handful, and buy land by the acre. We can also purchase many precious medicinal herbs. Every extra ginseng root we eat means a little more internal energy!"

"With you here, the matter of strength has been temporarily resolved. You have not yet reached twenty; at the very least, you can protect Mount Hua for another forty years."

"As for where the money will come from, since the Fuwei Escort Agency has delivered itself into our hands, we naturally cannot let this opportunity pass."

Yue Buqun spoke openly and frankly, yet it seemed he intended to use an overt strategy against the Fuwei Escort Agency. He did not appear to have any underhanded designs.

"Master, if we want money, it would be best to have a business of our own. Sitting atop a mountain of gold is no match for earning a coin every day. A steady stream is the true way."

"In this disciple's opinion, joining forces with the Fuwei Escort Agency to run an escort business would be an excellent idea."

"It is hard to say whether the disciples of our Mount Hua Sect have much talent for business, but Lin Zhennan is clearly skilled at running an escort agency. If we can partner with him and take twenty or thirty percent of the profits, that alone would be enough to fill the coffers of our Mount Hua Sect."

Ji Boying laid out his plan. He had considered this matter before.

Lin Zhennan was in his prime. If he managed the business, then for at least the next twenty years, the Fuwei Escort Agency would not encounter many problems in business.

The Fuwei Escort Agency had now expanded into ten provinces.

If they could have him take Sichuan as well, or expand north into Shaanxi, or south into Yunnan-Guizhou, any of those would do.

Then the escort business could truly be said to span the whole realm.

The Mount Hua Sect would not ask for much. The profits from just two or three provinces would be enough to support a Mount Hua ten or even a hundred times larger than it was now.

And the Mount Hua Sect would not take it for nothing. They could send their disciples out to help ward off some overt and covert threats.

"Running an escort agency is ultimately a violent business. In the end, it still depends on one's fists. That is the most fundamental safeguard. Unfortunately, Lin Zhennan does not seem to have realized that yet. Bringing our Mount Hua disciples into the operation and taking twenty or thirty percent of the profits would not be taking advantage of him. It could only be called a union of strengths."

Yue Buqun nodded repeatedly at Ji Boying's analysis.

His satisfaction with this disciple was not merely because of his exceptional talent and aptitude for martial arts. He also possessed considerable insight into worldly affairs.

"You are right. When Lin Zhennan does business, he always stresses that fortune comes first and danger comes after. There is nothing wrong with that; business should indeed be conducted that way. But over time, he himself has overlooked the importance of that 'might.'"

"If we had rashly approached him in the past and proposed cooperation, he would likely have generously given us some money to keep us fed. But he would only see it as doing us a favor and would never truly allow us into his core interests."

"However... now our opportunity has come."

Yue Buqun stroked his beard, wearing an expression of complete confidence.

Ji Boying immediately understood.

"Master means that there is now an enemy Lin Zhennan cannot handle, and that enemy is about to make a move against him."

"Exactly!"

Yue Buqun gave his quick-witted young disciple an approving look.

"Your assessment of the Qingcheng Sect last time was also correct. Their leader, Yu Canghai, is indeed a narrow-minded man, and he is now preparing to move against the Fuwei Escort Agency."

"The reason he gives publicly will naturally be to avenge his master Changqingzi. But in my view, the matter is far from that simple. Yu Canghai is likely also after the Lin family's Bixie Sword Manual."

Ji Boying took up the thread.

"If Yu Canghai wants the Bixie Sword Manual, he will naturally resort to threats, inducements, and all manner of shameful methods. He will not be willing to expose such things to the martial world and let others mock him. This disciple suspects that Yu Canghai will certainly use ruthless measures."

"Only the dead keep their mouths shut forever. Once he has done the deed, after three or five years, he can tell everyone he was avenging his master. As time passes, no one will think too deeply about it, and the truth will be buried."

"In that case, Lin Zhennan's family will surely face a life-and-death crisis. Only then will he realize the importance of having martial skill in hand. If we act at that time, we will be doing him a favor and making him understand that joining forces with our Mount Hua Sect is us helping him."

"Once our Mount Hua Sect becomes involved in the affairs of the Fuwei Escort Agency, money will naturally flow in without end."

Yue Buqun nodded repeatedly at Ji Boying's analysis. That was precisely what he had been thinking; master and disciple truly saw eye to eye.

Ji Boying pondered for a moment, then raised the most crucial point.

"The most important thing is that after we join forces with the Fuwei Escort Agency, the ones with fists within the agency will still be our Mount Hua Sect. When it comes down to it, we will have the greatest decision-making power at critical moments."

"If the Fuwei Escort Agency ever wrongs us in the future, we can overturn the table whenever we wish and withdraw at any time. If they push us too far, we can even turn around and kill them."

Ji Boying cupped his hands toward Yue Buqun.

"Master, leave this matter to your disciple!"

"And it just so happens... it is time to test the sword in my hand!"