Stronger by Killing

Mo Beiyan looked at Gu Zhan in confusion and asked, "Rebuild the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Gu Zhan nodded and said, "Bai Jiu’Er and the others are determined to have you form your own force to participate in the inheritance struggle, while what you want is to live freely and recklessly. These two goals, actually, don’t conflict at all."

Gu Zhan patted Mo Beiyan’s shoulder and said, "Come with me, rebuild the Embroidered Uniform Guard, ride across the Martial World, do whatever brings you joy, however you wish. You don’t need to worry about failing Bai Jiu’Er and the others’ expectations. Riding across the Martial World is the fastest way for you to gain territory and manpower to join the inheritance fight, and the best way for you, Sixth Young Master, to make your name."

Mo Beiyan fell into deep thought.

Gu Zhan chuckled lightly and said, "What are you still hesitating for? You’ve already resigned yourself to dying in Canglan City; can anything be worse than that?"

A gleam flashed in Mo Beiyan’s eyes, as he slowly said, "Although, Brother Gu, I feel you’re fooling me, I also think it’s not wrong. No matter how bad it gets, it can’t be any worse than being this cowardly. Maybe I’ll actually stir up something big, and it’s a way to clear my mother’s name. I want the world to know, my mother is the true Lady of Canglan City."

"Well said!" Gu Zhan slapped Mo Beiyan’s shoulder and said, "Just join the Embroidered Uniform Guard as a Vice Thousand Households. With your status, we take the moral high ground. Next, we’ll rebuild the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the major counties of Pingyang Prefecture, restoring the Guard’s role of overseeing the Martial World from thirty years ago!"

Mo Beiyan thought for a moment and said, "Brother Gu, that’s not easy. The true Martial World of Pingyang Prefecture isn’t in Pingyang City. Even though you’ve pacified all the major gangs of Pingyang City, that’s all you’ve done. The real Martial World of Pingyang Prefecture is in the Noble Families and Sects, especially those few First-class Families and Sects. There are plenty of Great Cultivators among them,

and even though they’re always fighting each other, rebuilding the Embroidered Uniform Guard would mean putting a sword above their heads. Nobody will agree to that. They’ll all unite to resist. No matter how strong you are individually, you can’t overturn all of Pingyang Prefecture by yourself!"

Gu Zhan smiled slightly and said, "That’s why I need Brother Mo’s full support!"

Gu Zhan naturally knew what rebuilding the Embroidered Uniform Guard meant. The Guard, in name, would have the power to oversee the Martial World, and operate supervisory authority over all major Martial World Influences, including taxes, martial disputes, business dealings—anything vital would fall under the Guard’s oversight.

The Martial World Influences of Pingyang Prefecture would never allow this to happen,

Right now, whether it’s shady business or brawling at will, it’s all up to them. But if the Embroidered Uniform Guard ever regains its former glory, half their wealth would be cut off.

Mo Beiyan asked in confusion, "Brother Gu, just say it straight!"

Gu Zhan smiled slightly and said, "You see, the Embroidered Uniform Guard originally stood for righteousness, but you know the situation in Yunxi—Government Office is just symbolic. But in Canglan Dao, Canglan City is the moral high ground."

With you, the Sixth Young Master of Canglan City, joining the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Guard gains legitimacy. If you promote policy, anyone who opposes it is opposing Canglan City, opposing Beidou Bang, and going against Dragon King. Nobody will dare challenge it openly."

So long as no one dares oppose openly, they can’t unite. Unless someone dares to publicly challenge Beidou Bang. Brother Mo, what do you think?"

"Sounds promising!"

Mo Beiyan pondered for a moment, then said, "But Brother Gu, every action has its price. Using my status brings convenience, but you also have to bear the backlash. You get what I mean?"

Gu Zhan chuckled and said, "You mean your several elder brothers?"

Mo Beiyan nodded.

Gu Zhan asked, "How do your elder brothers compare to Qi Baiyu?"

"Sword Spirit Qi Baiyu?"

"Mm."

"How can sparrows compare to hawks," Mo Beiyan said. "Though my elder brothers are all stronger than me, none of them can match Yunzhou’s Number One Talent Qi Baiyu. Qi Baiyu’s already a legend; without powerful backing, he still made all those prodigies bow. Even the top Tianjiao of Yunzhou Martial Arts—those so-called beacons—can’t hold a candle to Qi Baiyu."

Gu Zhan chuckled and said, "But I still killed Qi Baiyu’s own blood brother, and the Heir of Marquis Chengyang!"

Mo Beiyan suddenly realized, "Looks like I worried too much, Brother Gu. You’re fearless, whereas I was being overly cautious, putting myself at a disadvantage. Brother Gu, I’m with you. Tell me, what’s the plan?"

Gu Zhan slowly asked, "How many people do you have at your disposal?"

Mo Beiyan looked a bit embarrassed. "Honestly, apart from my identity as Sixth Young Master of Canglan City, I’m pretty useless. Not a single Dao Realm Great Cultivator under me, only about twenty Innate Martial Artists, three or four Great Innates, just enough to hold Shuixie Manor’s little patch."

"It’s enough, still quite good!"

Gu Zhan said, "Come with me to Pingyang City, publicly announce your joining the Embroidered Uniform Guard. With your status, the Guard can recruit lots of manpower—that’s enough. We don’t need to take on the Noble Families and Sects, only to get the Guard rebuilt."

Pingyang Prefecture has sixteen counties. We want the Embroidered Uniform Guard to expand rapidly, never mind stability, just make the Guard’s reputation resurface. Sixteen counties, set up sixteen Hundred Households Offices, each with an Innate Martial Artist as Hundred Households—let’s make a big impression first."

Also, in the name of the Guard, declare this is Canglan City’s intention—real or fake doesn’t matter. You are the Sixth Young Master, so fake is as good as real. Then invite all the Noble Families and Sects to Pingyang City to discuss the great matter of establishing Harmony in the Martial World!"

Mo Beiyan thought for a bit and said, "That won’t be a problem, anyway, my reputation is out there. Even if it’s fake, no one dares question it. But these Noble Families and Sects will most likely just play along on the surface. Even after the Hundred Households Offices are set up in each county, they won’t really exercise any supervisory power. There’s policy above, countermeasures below. One Hundred Households Office alone can’t match those forces."

Gu Zhan chuckled and said, "It’s precisely their playing along on the surface that I want. Otherwise, how could we ride across the Martial World?"

Mo Beiyan asked in confusion, "Brother Gu, what do you mean?"

"As long as the Guard is rebuilt," Gu Zhan said, "we can slowly drive that sword into the hearts of the Noble Families and Sects. Their bottom line will retreat step by step as the Guard expands."

Mo Beiyan raised an eyebrow and said, "Step by step eroding them?"

"No, it’s a beatdown a batch at a time!"

With that, Gu Zhan chuckled and said, "Our Embroidered Uniform Guard has a battalion of men gone missing. We request to send the Guard into the local Noble Families to search. That’s fair and reasonable, right?"