Chapter 101

The battle of the Frost-Shattering Palm versus the Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms.

The palm techniques of Mantian and Guhae clash.

To cut to the chase, Mantian got wrecked.

The light threads of the Frost-Shattering Palm, stretching out like spider webs from his hands, try to push back the dragon-shaped palm technique, but…

KWAGAGAGAGAGA-!!

He’s overpowered in the contest of internal energy and strength.

The dragon’s roar echoes like thunder, swallowing all obstacles.

KWA-WANG-!!

Strength against strength. The shockwave from the collision of two powerful martial arts sends him rolling on the ground like a defeated champ.

“TEEEEEEEEEEENG-!!”

He rolls all the way to the feet of Master Wang Miaoyang of the Jeonjin Sect.

Luckily, the internal energy of the Frost-Shattering Palm acted as a cushion, reducing the power of the Dragon-Subduing Palm, so he’s not seriously hurt, but…

‘Damn… I didn’t think the Frost-Shattering Palm would be pierced by the Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms…’

The voice of Tagujang echoes in his mind.

‘Tagutagu~ Tatagu~? Tagutagu~!!’


(Frost-Shattering Jang~ exploded Tagu? Your toughness is either on my level~ or below~ Tagu!)

To defend the Jeonjin Sect’s secret technique, the Frost-Shattering Palm, it’s not that the Frost-Shattering Palm is weak.

It’s just that the Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms is the strongest palm technique in the martial world.

And Guhae is overwhelmingly strong.

Still, the fact that the Frost-Shattering Palm, which has always been a reliable stepping stone to victory, was overpowered in a direct confrontation…

The mental shock hits harder than the physical one.

…But there’s no time to dwell on it.

The next attack comes immediately.

Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms – Flying Dragon in the Sky

Guhae charges at Mantian, who’s lying on the ground, without hesitation.

He reaches out for the treasure trying to escape his grasp, but…

A doll-like, pale white hand suddenly intervenes and stops him.

Empty Clarity Fist

…It doesn’t touch.

The Jeonjin Sect’s fist technique turns the force into nothing, blocking Guhae’s hand and sending it flying.

Mantian’s eyes widen as he sees the neatly tied golden hair fluttering in front of him.

A delicate yet sturdy back stands before him.

“Ma-Master…!!”

She protects her one and only precious disciple.

“The Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms is the essence of external martial arts, crushing opponents with sheer force. Avoid a direct confrontation.”

Wang Miaoyang steps forward, shielding Mantian.

“Your foolish declaration of three wives and four concubines… the wine pool…”

Embarrassed, Wang Miaoyang’s cheeks and ears turn red. She bites her lip in shame.

“The meat forest… I’ll definitely scold you for that later.”

Wine, meat, women—the symbols of a tyrant.

She didn’t say she’d set up a wine pool and meat forest, but that’s not the point right now.

Wang Miaoyang’s gaze shifts to Guhae, who was sent flying by the Empty Clarity Fist but landed safely after a graceful flip.

A strength that doesn’t seem like it belongs to someone of her age.

“…So get up. You’re a disciple of Jeonjin.”

As the leader of the Jeonjin Sect and his master, she encourages him.

“Even if it’s a foolish fight, win it.”

…And later, Mantian will have to work with her to revive the Jeonjin Sect.

If he loses and gets dragged to the Jiegal Family, it’ll be troublesome.

Encouraged, Mantian gets up, leaning on his staff and Wang Miaoyang’s shoulder.

“Thank you, Master. I’ll treat you to something delicious tonight.”

If Wang Miaoyang hadn’t blocked Guhae’s attack, he would’ve been helplessly defeated or put at a severe disadvantage.

Even though it’s an unofficial match, she boldly intervened and even gave advice.

Emotion wells up inside him.

Kyuuk~ This is the bond of the Jeonjin Sect, the sect that possesses the Heavenly Polar Bear Formation.

I take back what I thought before—‘Disgusting! Jeonjin Sect!!’

Well, enough joking. He regains his stance.

Sorry to the master who just gave advice, but he has no intention of giving up on a direct confrontation.

It may seem like a simple fight.

But this isn’t something that ends just by winning.

He has to make Guhae admit defeat herself.

That’s why he has to clash head-on, break, and accept everything.

Ding-dang-!

He throws away Tagujang and smiles confidently, spreading his arms.

“Come at me, Guhae.”

“……”

…Guhae’s brow twitches at Mantian’s attitude. Her long eyelashes flutter.

Step by step, she closes the distance, emitting an unusual aura.

Then, another intruder intervenes.

Snap-!

With the sound of a finger snap, a wall of flames appears and disappears between Mantian and Guhae.

“That was a warning. Don’t get any closer to my brother.”

Beautiful red eyes shine.

Yeonghwa, who had been silent until now due to the three wives and four concubines declaration, regains her senses and intervenes.

Originally, she had no intention of stepping in.

Helping Mantian here would indirectly mean supporting the three wives and four concubines.

The thought of her beloved brother holding another woman in his arms is unbearable. But…

Yeonghwa’s gaze shifts to Mantian, who’s rolling on the ground, covered in dirt.

…She doesn’t want to see her precious brother get hurt.

She fiddles with the Zoroastrianism symbol hanging on her chest.

‘Really… with me here… my brother is such a greedy man…’

Her wolf-like amber eyes shine as she recalls her brother’s shameless declaration of taking her.

‘Well, so… there are good things too… anyway!’

“In the Central Plains, there’s a saying: ‘Heroes love beauty.’”

She acts as the understanding and composed wife of her beloved brother.

“My brother is the reincarnation of Shahanshah (King of Kings). Having three wives and four concubines is culturally… culturally… culturally…”

…But it’s not easy.

Defending Mantian while showing tolerance and composure as the main wife.

The words repeat but don’t quite finish.

Her pink lips open and close repeatedly.

Finally, unable to hold back, she pouts and glares at Mantian cutely.

“…Brother, let’s talk later.”

After Wang Miaoyang, Yeonghwa is added to the list of people Mantian has to meet separately later.

And then, without pause, one more person joins.

With each step the girl takes, the ribbon Mantian gifted her, tied to her hair, sways.

“I don’t quite understand what the younger sister is saying.”

Namgung Sososo, the Sword Dragon of Namgung, who had been silent until now, also intervenes.

“I agree with the sentiment of not letting anyone get closer to Lord Sima.”

She emits an internal energy unexpected from her small frame, protecting her savior and precious person.

From both sides, Yeonghwa and Sososo intervene to restrain Guhae.

Seeing this, a faint smile unconsciously forms on Mantian’s lips.

It’s really heartwarming to have help in a crisis, but…

“……”

He looks at Guhae, who silently gazes only at him.

This is something he and Guhae need to resolve themselves.

Besides, if Yeonghwa, Guhae, and Sososo start fighting, all his efforts to draw aggro would be for nothing.

“Thanks for stepping in, but step aside.”

He passes by the two, who simultaneously exclaim, “Brother!”, “Lord Sima!”, and moves forward.

It’s nice that they’re worried, but if his prediction is correct, he won’t get hurt anymore.

The fight is no longer the issue.

So, step by step, he approaches Guhae without hesitation.

The distance between them is just one step.

PAANG-!

Guhae’s outstretched right palm grazes his cheek, striking the air and creating a loud sound.

“…There won’t be a next time.”

She lifts her head and grabs Mantian’s collar with her slender hand, pulling him close.

“Guhae is Mantian’s, and Mantian is Guhae’s.”

Her voice, suppressing emotions, warns and pleads.

“Say you’ll be mine.”

I hug Guhae tightly with all my strength.

“……?!”

Guhae’s eyes widen in surprise, but it doesn’t matter.

Our chests press together so closely that I can hear her heartbeat.

I hug her tightly enough to share our warmth.

“Sorry, did I surprise you?”

I whisper softly in her ear, reassuring her.

“It’s okay, I’m not hurt. I just lost my balance because of my right leg and rolled around~”

…Yes, Guhae is very surprised right now. Flustered.

Her desire to have me and her desire not to hurt me clashed.

That’s why she didn’t say anything when Yeonghwa and Sososo intervened.

She thought I was hurt, so she couldn’t attack anymore and deliberately missed, pleading.

Guhae likes me.

At first, she came to take me, but the option of truly hurting me was never there from the start.

As I gently stroke Guhae’s trembling back…

“Let go… I hate you…”

With a tearful voice, Guhae’s hand pushes me away. But the immense internal energy she used earlier is nowhere to be felt.

Her small hands weakly tap my chest, putting up a meaningless resistance.

Letting go now would be truly foolish.

“If you want something, take it. If you want to cry, cry. You’re a greedy, clingy man.”

I hug her even tighter, pressing our bodies together.

“Sorry, but this is who I am.”

I bury my face in the crook of her neck and whisper my love.

“I can’t give up anything. Stay with me. Don’t leave me.”

“I missed… you… I hate you…”

Her tearful voice makes me pull back slightly and look at her.

“I missed you… I missed you, okay… I didn’t want to fight Mantian… I didn’t want to hurt you…”

Her blue eyes, reminiscent of the morning sea, shimmer with tears.

…And why is it?

Seeing Guhae cry, an irrational impulse rises within me.

Peck-.

I kiss the tears streaming down her cheek.

In a past life, I read a novel where it said that the bird that drinks tears dies the earliest.

And that it’s the most beautiful.

Now I understand. Drinking this sweet yet bitter water.

It’s dying early, it’s beautiful.

I decide not to think about the surrounding gazes. I keep kissing.

I drink Guhae’s tears. I drink her sorrow.

“Do… it…”

The whisper in my ear makes me lift my head.

I’m not so clueless as to ask, ‘Do what?’

Her half-closed, moist blue eyes look up at me, her face slightly red with desire and embarrassment.

Our soft lips meet.

I don’t know who started it, but our tongues intertwine.

Guhae’s arms, which had been pushing me away, now wrap around my back, pulling me closer.

We feel each other’s warmth, exploring one another.

The kiss of a dragon and a human.

Her sharp teeth graze my tongue, but it’s a bearable pain.

After a long kiss…

Paha-.

Our lips part, and a breath escapes.

A string of saliva glistens between us.