Chapter 98

The bustling first floor of the inn.

“Buy the latest info! The winner of the Dragon and Phoenix Association is announced!”

A young boy weaves through the crowd, holding a simple information sheet issued by the lower five sects.

“Breaking news! A limping tiger has emerged from the mountains! Plus, various other updates!”

“…A limping tiger?”

Amidst the chatter, a large man in a black coat stops his chopsticks and hands a coin to the boy.

“Give me one of those info sheets.”

Though he often buys these sheets as a form of charity for the orphans who sell them, today there’s something that catches his attention.

The winner of the Dragon and Phoenix Association: Sima Mantian, the “Clever Tiger.”

The man reads the sheet with Mantian’s portrait.

“Hmph… He sure loves the spotlight.”

A faint smile appears on the lips of Mukgang, the “Immovable King,” a guardian of the esoteric sect.

“Tch… A genius who even deceives the heavens.”

With an expression that’s hard to read, he sips his tea.

***

In a room adorned with portraits of the golden-haired beauty Wang Miaoyang.

A traitor of the Ilwol God Sect and the Jeonjin Sect.

“Sima! Mantian!”

Ma Yang’s blade swiftly cuts through Mantian’s portrait in a cross shape.

Her body heats up, her ample chest heaving as she breathes heavily.

“Haah… Haah…”

The humiliation of that day remains unforgettable.

‘Hey, you old hag, stop bullying the cute kids and play with me!’

‘It’s a chicken coop! A stable! Clean the stable!!’

Though the latter part was a hallucination born of Ma Yang’s trauma, it still stings.

“A brat with no eye for women…”

Though she’s a bit older, her attractive appearance has never been subjected to such insulting remarks before.

Moreover, as a top-tier martial artist, she’s always been treated with respect wherever she goes. That’s why…

“I’ll never forget this humiliation!”

With tears welling up in her beautiful eyes and a trembling face, she steels her resolve.

Beside her, flushed with anger.

Kiiing~! Kiiing~! Kiiing~!

(The portrait is in four pieces! The portrait is in four pieces!!)

The Ten Thousand Swords, Yongyeon, happily chatters while looking at the quartered portrait of Mantian.

“……”

Feeling hollow after venting her anger alone, Ma Yang decides to regain her confidence.

She locks the door.

Standing in front of a full-length mirror, wearing only underwear that covers her vital areas, she suppresses her shame.

“…I’m not hurt, right?”

***

On the second floor of the inn under the Namgung Family.

Unmu Yong, the tenth elder of the Ilwol God Sect and a demon sect elder, waits for Namgung Cheon, the “Thunder Emperor,” one of the top ten martial artists in the world.

“Hehehe- Hehehehe.”

Unlike his usual awkward fake laughter, the infamous martial outlaw genuinely smiles while reading a crude info sheet filled with gossip.

Noticing his unusual demeanor, Yong raises an eyebrow.

“…What’s written there?”

“Hmph- It’s about my nephew. Impressive, isn’t it?”

With a proud expression, the nameless man hands over the sheet.

[Shocking news from the Nine Great Clans! The Five Great Families tremble! The Clever Tiger, Sima Mantian, makes his appearance!!]

As expected, it’s a sensational, meaningless headline to boost sales.

“To think the kid I saw at his first birthday has grown so much… It’s quite moving.”

“I find your reaction more surprising.”

Since almost everything about the “Unrivaled Outlaw” is shrouded in mystery, Yong decides to probe for information.

“By the way… I heard you killed the orphanage director you grew up with. Was that your first kill?”

Yong’s cautious question is met with an unexpected, cheerful response.

“No, my first kill was a five-year-old child.”

“…What?”

“When I was about five, the director gathered all the orphans and taught us some basic martial arts for a few days.”

Yong’s expression hardens as the man speaks calmly.

“Then he said, ‘Alright, you got it. Now, kill each other.'”

“…So you killed?”

“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t get food. To eat, I had to kill. Back then, I thought that was just common sense.”

The man, seemingly unfazed, continues to recount his past.

“Then, when I was about fifteen, the director suddenly…”

“‘Out of the ordinary, beyond expectations, how did you reach such a level… You monster.’ – he said, attacking me.”

“So, I killed him as I was taught… Ah!”

As if realizing something, the man’s eyes widen, and his mouth hangs open like a fool.

“Now that I think about it… That wasn’t an orphanage at all, was it?!”

“…Took you long enough.”

Yong sighs in disbelief, but then…

“Haha.”

Realizing it was just the man’s usual nonsensical joke, Yong grimaces, and the man shrugs.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to make things awkward.”

As Yong, annoyed, is about to retort.

Creak-

“Excuse me. Your chicken porridge is here.”

The door opens, and a well-dressed attendant brings in two bowls of chicken porridge.

“Chicken porridge…?”

“Ah, I ordered it. You haven’t eaten anything since the other day. Even as a jiangshi, you need to replenish your energy.”

The true head of the Namgung Family, the infamous Namgung Cheon, is about to arrive.

The tension is so high that Yong can’t even swallow food.

Even with a jiangshi body, emotional stress is unavoidable.

“Lucky you, still able to eat in such a situation.”

Yong’s sarcastic remark is met with immediate agreement.

“Of course, I can eat.”

The man scoops a spoonful of porridge, savoring the savory aroma and warmth.

“To live, one must eat.”

With his muddy black eyes, he looks at Yong and offers the porridge.

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you if things go south.”

He gives an awkward smile.

“That’s why you hired me, right?”

“……”

Yong silently takes the porridge and eats a spoonful.

Even though his body doesn’t need food, it still tastes delicious. Strange.

Satisfied, the man continues the conversation lightly.

“Ah, speaking of the past, I just remembered when we first met in person.”

“Don’t.”

Yong tries to cut him off, but it’s too late.

“A little girl approached me, asking me to join her plan to destroy the martial world. It was quite baffling.”

“…If I knew you’d be this cheeky, I would never have shown myself.”

The plan couldn’t be executed without the cooperation of the “Unrivaled Outlaw,” the world’s greatest assassin.

Meeting him in person as an equal was a lifelong mistake.

***

In the scenic garden of the Martial Alliance.

Gu Hae skillfully sews up the torn outer garment with her delicate fingers, while Mantian feels a complex mix of emotions rising within.

Her slightly tilted profile, half-closed blue eyes, and long eyelashes as she focuses on sewing.

The soft body warmth from her shoulder touching his, the pleasant scent tickling his nose.

Her well-developed thighs revealed by her shorts, her slender waist, and the swell of her chest visible through her clothes.

…She used to be just a child who loved sweets and naps.

But now, she’s grown into a woman. A big dragon, a “Koyong.”

Though he expected her to grow, seeing her feminine side now makes his heart race.

“Done.”

Gu Hae bites off the thread and shyly hands him the repaired garment.

“…How is it?”

He puts it on immediately.

Honestly, his father sends him plenty of allowance through Jang Sam-i, so he could buy a new one.

“It’s great. Thanks, I’ll wear it well.”

He’s genuinely happy that his cute disciple went through the trouble of fixing it for him.

And it’s good to save where you can.

“When did you get so good at sewing?”

Curious, he asks, as she never showed interest in such things before.

“I practiced.”

Gu Hae smiles bashfully and pulls out a red silk bundle she’s been treasuring.

“This is…!?”

Though worn and patched over time, it’s a golden silk pouch with “Sima Mantian” embroidered on it.

“You still… have it…”

“It’s a precious gift you gave me.”

Thud-

She leans her head against Mantian’s shoulder.

Mantian thought this was a reunion between master and disciple, close friends.

But Gu Hae wanted a different kind of reunion.

She wraps her arms around him like a snake coiling around its prey, interlacing her fingers.

“I missed you.”

This was a reunion between a man and a woman in love.

…And as the snake tightens its grip, Sososo tries to intervene.

“Stop. What right do you have to interfere between them?”

Jiegal Yeon, Gu Hae’s friend and granddaughter of Jiegal Yang, blocks her.

“Step aside. I have something to say to Young Master Sima…”

“He’s your man, isn’t he? Right?”

As if cold water has been poured on her, Sososo’s expression hardens.

Of course, that doesn’t mean Sososo is actually a man.

“Young Master Namgung and Young Master Sima are just close friends. Right?”

“You… now…!”

Jiegal Yeon’s sharp eyes, resembling her grandfather’s, pierce Sososo’s weak spot.

‘This woman… she’s figured out I’m a girl and is saying this on purpose.’

Due to family circumstances, Sososo must officially be a man, regardless of her true gender.

Unable to properly express her jealousy while the man she likes is with another woman, her fists clench.

“……”

A whirlwind of frustration, sadness, and jealousy swirls within her.

…And then, another visitor arrives.

“Young Master-!!”

Sima Family servant, guard, and assassin.

Jang Sam-i rushes in, flustered, about to shout, ‘Run away-!!’ when…

Click- click-

A rhythmic, dignified footsteps echo.

Has summer already arrived? Pink peach blossoms flutter in the wind.

A seductive yet dignified figure, with beautiful red eyes.

Sima Yeonghwa makes her entrance.

With many “friends” of Sima Bu in the Martial Alliance besides Jiegal Bi-Young, entering wasn’t a problem.

“Who are you?”

Sensing the unusual atmosphere, Jiegal Yeon blocks Yeonghwa again.

“I’m the precious family member of the person behind you. His only sister.”

With a sly smile, she dismisses Jiegal Yeon lightly.

Following the unbreakable red thread of fate, she approaches her beloved brother.

“Yeonghwa…?”

“I missed you, brother.”

Though he heard she was coming, her sudden appearance surprises Mantian, and he stands up.

Naturally, the repaired garment with another woman’s touch catches Yeonghwa’s eye.

“…Your clothes are quite worn. Give them to me.”

To cover up, to erase the traces, she reaches for the garment.

Thud-!

Gu Hae slaps Yeonghwa’s hand away.

With a flash of her blue eyes, she warns against touching the dragon’s treasure.

“Don’t touch. It’s mine.”

“…Huh?”

A laugh escapes Yeonghwa’s lips at the absurd statement.

My only brother, my only Xiaoxiantu.

“Brother is yours? That’s an amusing thing to say.”

But contrary to her words, her darkening red eyes show no smile.

With no room for compromise, the two girls acknowledge each other’s presence.