Chapter 70

“Sa… injured… girl…?”


It feels like getting hit hard on the head with a blunt weapon, beyond disbelief.


Ma Yang’s face freezes coldly at the shocking insult from a brat not even half her age, no, precisely because of that, it’s even more shocking.


She doesn’t want to show an ugly side to her cute junior sister and disciples. A small twitch occurs at the corner of her eye due to anger.


Although Ma Yang maintains her beautiful appearance with internal energy, she hasn’t reached the state of rejuvenation, making this a sensitive issue, a trigger button.


Expressed elegantly, it’s touching the ‘reverse scale’ that shouldn’t be touched, glaring at the brat who doesn’t know the world’s fears.


“A frog in a well with nothing but youth… how dare you babble.”


The air grows heavy with the killing intent emitted by a martial artist who has reached the pinnacle of supreme mastery.


Under the overwhelming anger of the strong, Wolhwa and Ma Yang’s disciples, regardless of sides, naturally break into a cold sweat and shrink back.


Except for one fearless, lame rebel.


“A frog in a well may not know the sea’s breadth, but it knows the sky’s height.”


Calmly, he narrows the distance, scattering a crimson aura from his left arm.


Even if hidden in the wilderness, unaware of the world’s fears, a wolf is a wolf, a tiger is a tiger.


A beast may die but never loses its spirit.


Thus, he calmly challenges the martial world’s senior, as vast as the sky.


“Come at me, old man. I’ll send you downstream of the Yangtze.”


Heat rises from the back of his neck. Facial control is no longer possible. Ma Yang’s nerves, previously focused on Wang Miaoyang, now concentrate on Mantian before her.


Deciding there’s nothing more to hear, Ma Yang steps forward to end it in one move but…


“Insolent frog brat… right now…?!”


She doesn’t move. By the time she realizes, it’s already too late. Only where Ma Yang stands, gravity and weight apply differently.


『Fudo Myo-o’s Step (不動明王步)』 – Pressure


Using the application power gained from internal energy release training, it’s not just scattering energy but calculating coordinates to concentrate the king’s aura on one person, pressing down.


Ma Yang thought Mantian was mocking without understanding the level difference, but it’s the opposite. Knowing the difference, he was most cautious.


If necessary, even against overwhelmingly strong opponents, he fights risking his life, but he’s not a fool who charges headfirst without thought.


Fudo Myo-o’s Step is a technique that requires stepping on the ground with a burst of gathered energy to activate.


If Ma Yang notices something amiss before stepping and strikes first, using Jade Maiden Heart Sutra’s quick initial move to press acupoints and subdue, it’s over.


…So, flaunting the crimson aura from his left arm, wagging his tongue, confusing the opponent, gathering energy unnoticed, he took the heavy king’s step.


“Such… nonsense…!!”


Of course, even with this trick, the basic specs are too different, only startling her momentarily. It only creates a brief gap.


…But that’s okay.


Because that brief gap was all he needed.


Bending his body, he kicks off the ground with his intact left foot, charging forward like low-altitude flight, rolling past Ma Yang.


“Ru, running-?!”


Acting as if he would attack immediately, then suddenly running away, Ma Yang’s disciples, watching, shout in confusion.


‘Ah, no… that’s not running away!!’


In Wolhwa’s tearful golden eyes, a beast-like cold, glowing amber pupil flashes by.


Those eyes weren’t of a cub seal rolling to escape predators. That figure was a brave hedgehog hunting prey. That itself-!!


Naturally, Mantian didn’t give up the fight.


Rolling on the ground combatantly, he swiftly catches the golden-haired beauty master, Wang Miaoyang, who was left on the ground after being acupunctured, with all eyes on him.


‘I said I’d send you downstream of the Yangtze, but I didn’t say I’d send you.’


Rescuing Wang Miaoyang from acupressure. That was the goal from the start.


“……?!!”


Wang Miaoyang’s pupils shake greatly at the unexpected situation where a disciple, not even half her skill, didn’t run away but came to save her. But it’s too early to be surprised.


Because Mantian immediately inserts his hands between Wang Miaoyang’s chest and shoulders, under her armpits, and starts massaging vigorously yet gently.


“?!?!?!?!”


Releasing internal energy, he quickly massages the chest and armpit areas. A soft yet firm sensation is felt through his palms.


To explain, Wang Miaoyang currently can’t speak, and her body is stiff. Probably, acupoints like Jianjing or Jugular near the chest, armpit, and shoulder were pressed.


If proficient in acupressure, one could figure out where and how to release it.


But unfortunately, he only knew the locations of the acupoints and had no time, so he resorted to this hurried massage.


Fortunately, she had already prepared to release the acupressure on her own to some extent.


“Wh, where are you touching-?!”


Wang Miaoyang, freed from paralysis by the massage, pushes Mantian away, her face turning bright red.


“It’s an emergency, please understand.”


Mantian smiles brightly, purely happy at the clear sound of his master’s voice.


“……”


Wang Miaoyang, still blushing with shame, reaches out a small hand to pat Mantian’s head as if there’s no other choice.


“You’ve worked hard. …Thank you.”


Then, she steps forward, her clothes fluttering.


“Can you win?”


Responding to the voice of her only disciple from behind, space begins to split from the tip of Wang Miaoyang’s left hand.


Crack- Crackle-!!


Putting aside the master’s revenge, the sect’s traitor. To no longer show a shameful appearance as the Jeonjin Sect’s leader.


With the heart of a clear mirror walking on a lake, calmly answering with countless stars on her back.


Iseongpabingjang (履霜破氷掌)


“…Yes.”


The true North Star of Jeonjin reappears in the martial world.


***


Ma Yang couldn’t understand the current situation.


‘Where did it all go wrong?’


The start was perfect.


Using Yongyeon, she threw the village into chaos and easily subdued Wang Miaoyang, who was unaware of the Ancient Grave Sect’s martial arts.


Unexpectedly skilled Namgung Sososo was also taken care of with Yongyeon.


…But in just a moment, everything went awry.


Cheongwon and Okhyeong, who were expected to win easily, were defeated, and even Wang Miaoyang was freed from acupressure.


As a fellow disciple, Ma Yang knows Wang Miaoyang’s strength well.


The initial easy victory was solely due to the lack of information. Even with poor martial compatibility, Wang Miaoyang wouldn’t fall for the same trick twice.


…But that doesn’t mean she’s losing. The situation has just gotten much worse.


The once won battle is gradually turning around.


Ma Yang looks at the man who created this entire situation.


Behind Wang Miaoyang, who approaches with a menacing aura, stands the lame brat… no, Sima Mantian (司馬瞞天).


…Mantian, deceiving the sky. What an ominous and arrogant name.


The head, filled with anger just moments ago, rapidly calms down.


“Cheonchu, lend me your sword. And the rest, provide first aid to Cheongwon and Okhyeong.”


A master of sword techniques who has mastered both Jeonjin Sect and Ancient Grave Sect’s swordsmanship. Ma Yang drawing her sword means she’s serious about facing her opponent.


The experience and senses accumulated over time whisper to her. She instinctively realizes.


If she doesn’t kill Mantian here and now, it will lead to big trouble later.


Taking the sword handed over by a frightened disciple, she blooms the death star, sword aura (劍罡).


Wherever she goes, be it a family or a sect, she is treated with respect.


Top-tier martial artists, who have reached the pinnacle, narrow the distance between each other.


A palm technique that destroys everything and a viciously blue blade collide….


“Whew… that’s enough. Running here made me really out of breath.”


…Nothing happens.


Broad shoulders and a sturdy body, a short beard. Wearing Taoist clothes but with a rough atmosphere that doesn’t match at all, an elderly man.


One of the top ten masters of the world, said to have learned a thousand martial arts, the Martial God (武神).


The Martial Alliance Leader (武林盟主), Jaro (自路), personally intervenes in the fight.


***


After chasing away Ilwol God Sect’s elder, Dang Wu, and leaving Jang Sam-i, who was worried about Mantian.


One of the Martial World’s Three Evils, Mujeok Mujeok (無籍無敵), Muming (無名), awkwardly smiles and speaks to the pale-skinned handsome man before him.


“Uh… you shouldn’t kill people recklessly, not even a madman. Things that can be resolved through dialogue should be resolved through dialogue. -How do you like this joke?”


Currently employed by Mujeok Mujeok, infiltrated the Ilwol God Sect and risen to elder for his own purposes.


From the Jinju Eon family (辰州言家), the tenth elder (十長老), Eon Muyong (言無用), frowns at Muming’s strange question.


“What kind of joke is that?”


“Actually, it’s a joke I told to an acquaintance? Someone I know. The reaction wasn’t good. Whether it’s funny or not, please listen.”


Happy that someone is interested in the joke he came up with, Muming explains cheerfully.


“Exactly, after this- ‘Because you can kill, you shouldn’t kill people recklessly.’, ‘Doing work without pay is a loss, isn’t it?’-this kind of dialogue-type joke needs to be completed.”


“The funny point of this joke is that a trash assassin who kills people says you shouldn’t kill people recklessly….”


Deciding there’s no more to listen to, Eon Muyong cuts off Muming’s words.


“Enough, it’s not funny. Explaining a joke itself means the joke has failed. Don’t do it again.”


Under the merciless criticism, Muming’s eyes and shoulders droop dejectedly.


“Hey… don’t say such harsh things. My body may be indestructible, but my heart isn’t.”


“Enough with the unnecessary talk, quickly get out of the way. The Martial Alliance Leader has appeared.”


“Uh… that’s… I know.”


“…What?”


Muming’s eyes darkly shine as he looks towards the direction of the Martial Alliance Leader. The eyes of an assassin.


“If you wish… the plan may be disrupted, but I can kill him as per the request. …Probably.”