Chapter 151

Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms (降龍十八掌).


A palm technique with terrifying power, as its name suggests, capable of subduing dragons.


Why is such a cool martial art associated with beggars? Well, it wasn’t originally a beggar’s technique.


It was said that a certain hero who created this technique later became a beggar, and thus it naturally became part of their repertoire.


Anyway, the truly scary part of this technique is—.


Bang-!


Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms – Regret of the Soaring Dragon (亢龍有悔)


The shockwave alone tears through the atmosphere.


I barely manage to dodge to the side, narrowly avoiding the palm strike infused with Guhae’s internal energy.


“……!!”


If I had been even a second slower, I would’ve been flattened by Sima Mantian.


To reiterate, the terrifying part of this technique is—.


Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms – Hidden Dragon Does Not Act (潛龍勿用)


As I dodge the palm strike, Guhae suddenly appears before me, her blue eyes flashing like a dragon’s claws as she curls her left fingers and strikes.


A curse slips out from within.


‘…Damn it.’


It’s extremely simple, fast, flexible, and powerful.


Unless you’re a top-tier master.


In the martial world, when faced with the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms, the only options are to dodge or take the hit.


One of the two.


The attacks are straightforward and relentless, but they’re so fast and powerful.


There’s no weakness.


The sheer force overwhelms any technique. No room to breathe.


Before you can even react—.


Snap-!


Guhae’s left hand quickly grabs my right wrist, holding it firmly.


“……!?”


Damn… Cold sweat drips down. I’m in a tight spot.


The Soul Flight and Spirit Scatter Technique (魂飛魄散步) doesn’t actually make you “disappear” in front of your eyes.


It’s just moving so fast that you can’t react in time.


But if a part of your body is caught, evasion is impossible.


With her left hand, she pulls me closer as her right hand delivers a close-range Dragon Subduing Palm.


My mind races in the face of the impending crisis.


In this slowed-down world, I think of the worst.


‘It would be more painful to see Guhae, freed from her half-dragon state, make a sad face than to be knocked down by that attack.’


“…Ha!”


I can’t help but laugh at the first thought that comes to mind.


Without hesitation, my body moves.


Forward.


Instead of resisting the pulling force, I add to it.


All or nothing.


I dive into Guhae’s embrace and extend my palm toward the incoming Dragon Subduing Palm.


Zhang Family Taijiquan (張家太極拳)


Just before the palms collide, I rotate my hand from top to bottom, slipping under Guhae’s forearm.


In that position, I simply relax and soften.


With a light flick of my fingers, I tap Guhae’s forearm upward.


Tap-.


Paaang!


The redirected Dragon Subduing Palm grazes past my face, striking the air.


A minor reversal of fortunes.


Frowning blue eyes and confident amber eyes meet.


“■■-!”


“Even your frown is cute!”


I smirk and extend my left hand, grabbing Guhae’s weakened right hand.


Lovers, and indeed actual lovers.


Anyway, like lovers interlocking fingers, I slide my fingers between hers and press our palms together.


“……!?”


Guhae, startled, tries to pull away with force.


Empty Clarity Fist (空明拳)


With our fingers interlocked, I use the Empty Clarity Fist to dissipate Guhae’s strength.


Both of us holding each other’s arms.


In that position, I pull Guhae closer, pressing our bodies together.


Whispering with love at a breath’s distance.


“Let’s dance, Guhae.”


Guhae’s response is a stomp on my foot. A truly martial artist’s answer.


“■■■-!”


Bang-!


As I dodge her foot, Guhae’s heel slams the ground, creating a shockwave.


‘You want to play? Fine.’


With the Taiji above my head and the Bagua in my arms.


I dodge Guhae’s footwork while stepping through the Five Elements.


“……!?”


Guhae’s body is pulled into a spin.


Mantian and Guhae, the overlapping pair, spin together, drawing a beautiful circle.


For a moment, the half-dragon Guhae’s eyes widen in surprise.


“……!”


But then her eyes narrow calmly again.


She presses into Mantian in a different way.


Heavenly Mystery Step (天機迷離步)


Not with brute force, but with elegant footwork, she steps through the Five Elements first.


She takes control of the spin.


This time, Mantian’s body is pulled along.


And each time.


Soul Flight and Spirit Scatter Technique (魂飛魄散步)


Mantian immediately finds a new path, moving his feet to continue the spin.


Round and round… round and round….


Attacking and dodging.


Under the pouring rain.


The cripple and the half-dragon dance a wild waltz.


“……It’s like.”


Jiegal Yeon, watching the scene, unknowingly opens her mouth and lets out a short sigh.


“They’re dancing.”


Jiegal Yang, not taking his eyes off Mantian and Guhae, responds to his granddaughter’s observation.


“Or perhaps a life-and-death struggle.”


A life-and-death struggle (吐血之局) – a tense battle where one would rather spit blood than lose, or a situation where one must fight to the death.


“The moment this spinning stops… the winner will be decided.”


The man who was knocked down by Guhae’s palm strike just moments ago, Mantian.


Now fighting on equal footing, Jiegal Yeon mutters in confusion and an inexplicable sense of awe.


“But how is he… this is strange.”


And Jiegal Yang, calmly observing the “equal” yet “unequal” battle between Guhae and Mantian, says.


“There’s a momentum that can’t be explained by internal energy, martial arts, or experience.”


From small-scale personal fights to large-scale wars.


“Sometimes, that momentum gathers to create something beyond reason.”


-That’s what he said.


But it’s not just momentum. His skills have genuinely improved.


Probably from the recent battle with the Blood Church.


But even so.


Jiegal Yang’s eyes narrow as he watches Mantian’s spinning.


Guhae is still stronger.


In terms of internal energy, martial power, and physical ability, he’s outmatched.


To Jiegal Yeon, it might look like they’re evenly matched, but Jiegal Yang sees it.


With a relaxed face, gritting his teeth.


Mantian, circulating internal energy throughout his body, faces the half-dragon with a creaking physique.


Pushing himself to the limit.


Only by riding the momentum can he match her. An unequal equality.


A situation where it wouldn’t be strange if he collapsed at any moment.


But…


“He’s not falling.”


Sima Mantian (司馬瞞天) does not fall.


Holding onto Guhae’s hand, he continues to spin, waiting for the decisive moment.


“…Hmm?”


As he observes Mantian’s spinning and footwork, Jiegal Yang’s lips curl into an incredulous smile.


“Ha! Where did that kid learn that?”


He recognizes the origin of a certain “martial art” that has become part of the Soul Flight and Spirit Scatter Technique.


He understands the secret behind the unyielding spin against the dragon.


“Be grateful that the old men of Kunlun Sect have little interest in the affairs of the Central Plains.”


And then, arriving late to the commotion.


“Uh, Elder! What on earth is going on here!? An attack!? Is this an attack!?”


Jiegal So-Bong, the acting head of the Jiegal Family, appears, and Jiegal Yang casually responds.


“Don’t make a fuss. They’re just playing around.”


“…Huh? What do you mean?”


“I’ve set up a formation. There won’t be any collateral damage.”


He adds, addressing the confused Jiegal So-Bong.


“So don’t disturb them.”


He watches the grand battle unfolding between Mantian and Guhae through martial arts.


***


How much time has passed? As the rain begins to thin.


The balance of the eternal-seeming spin finally breaks.


Naturally, it’s Mantian who loses balance first.


The congenital disability in his right leg can no longer hold, and it gives out.


‘Damn it…’


A curse slips out from within.


I thought I’d be fine since I’ve been flying around lately. Guess I’ve reached my limit.


Honestly, it’s impressive I lasted this long.


But even though my leg has stopped spinning, I don’t let go of Guhae’s interlocked right hand.


Now comes the real decisive move.


And the moment the spinning balance breaks.


The half-dragon Guhae moves to end the fight.


She releases my right wrist, which she had been holding with her left hand, and in one swift motion, channels her internal energy to strike.


Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms – Divine Dragon Swings Its Tail (神龍擺尾)


Like a dragon’s tail striking the clouds to summon thunder, Guhae’s left arm aims for Mantian’s head.


All of this happens in an instant.


It’s too late to dodge. So…


If I can’t dodge, I’ll take the hit and endure. Electrical signals spread from Mantian’s brain.


Heavenly Thunder Energy (天雷氣)


My body moves, bending my right arm to shield my head.


The unexpected effect of the Heavenly Thunder Energy.


Accelerating the speed of martial arts.


Ming King Fist (明王拳)


A crimson aura of the Ming King envelops my right arm, forming a shield.


And then.


Boom—!!


A massive shockwave erupts, and thunder echoes.


The result—.


The half-dragon’s eyes widen in shock. Her mouth opens involuntarily.


“Ah… Ah…”


Mantian (瞞天) does not fall.


The right hand that blocked the Divine Dragon Swings Its Tail trembles violently, and blood flows from my right ear, but I do not fall.


Unwavering amber eyes pierce through the half-dragon.


“I will never die by your hand.”


I take a shaky step forward.


“You can never kill me.”


My trembling right hand grabs the antler-like horns on the half-dragon’s head.


“Ah……”


I should strike her down now, but my body won’t move, overwhelmed by Mantian’s spirit.


“Accept me.”


I press my lips against the half-dragon’s mouth.


“Gya-!?”


I roughly push my tongue in, as if devouring her. The half-dragon… Guhae’s shark-like teeth scrape and cut my tongue, and blood seeps out.


But it doesn’t matter. If she pushes me away, I kiss her again.


I steal her breath, mixing our tongues as if suffocating.


“Ah… Eek…!?”


The half-dragon gasps for breath, trying to push Mantian away with her left arm, but for some reason, she can’t muster the strength. The interlocked right hand is too warm… no, hot from Mantian’s body heat.


Her strength drains away.


The dragon tail formed along her spine flaps left and right.


Paha-.


The long kiss finally ends, and our lips part.


A pink thread of mixed blood and saliva stretches between us.