139 – Martial Realm Nymph #9
“Liu Hua has been defeated! How are we supposed to take responsibility for this disaster…!”
“If this continues, our Martial Realm will surely suffer humiliation…!”
“If another wave of the Korean tide blows through the Martial Realm, it will be an uncontrollable situation—.”
The elders in the VIP room were engulfed in despair as if the sky had fallen.
It was practically like experiencing such a reality.
In front of all sorts of people, the greatest hopeful from China has been toppled by the awakened from Korea.
Though there are various circumstances, this was a major issue that could create significant ripples.
With this situation, there was only one way to go.
To give Haildo an even greater trial and turn the situation around.
The master of subtle military tactics, Zhuge Thompson, looked beyond the screen, chuckling as bees buzzed around.
“Tang So-hae. She will definitely be able to keep Haildo in check!”
21st Century.
The Tang Clan of Sichuan once partnered with the world-renowned corporation, Osa Group, to produce a medicine.
Its name was “Kirilpill,” a medication that caused various things to become erect.
Although it was said that the pharmaceutical division of Osa Group began to sink after the fall of its leader, Lee Joon-Hun, the effects of the medicine did not simply disappear.
“Kirilpill” was particularly remarkable among such medicines.
“For men, it’s absolutely unbearable.”
“Can the boiling youth Haildo endure something that could even revive aging elders?”
Muha ha ha—!
The elders felt good thinking about defeating the awakened Haildo.
For them, this tournament had morphed into a contest purely about defeating Haildo.
Of course, not everyone was optimistic.
The clan master of the volcanic region felt a sense of unease.
“Is that Haildo really going to fall so easily? He is the man who defeated my granddaughter Liu Hua! He wouldn’t go down that easily!”
# # #
“Now, what do you think? Do you want the antidote? I injected you with ten times the amount that should have been used for the spring medicine ‘Kirilpill’! With this, even a stone Buddha would stand up!”
Tang So-hae shouted mischievously.
I was acutely aware that it was abnormal for my blood to be boiling like this.
Madam Tang Young-Young had warned me that I must be cautious of the Tang family’s cunning and trickery.
From the moment I met Tang So-hae, it seemed I had already been entangled in her schemes.
Such negligence!
Beads of sweat dripped from my forehead.
Given the circumstances, I had no choice but to seize the antidote from Tang So-hae within five minutes.
“Kkungkkungi!”
—Kkungkkung…!
Pat—
The Squirrel Beast Kkungkkungi jumped down from my shoulder.
Facing Tang So-hae, it fluffed its fur, sensing my impatience.
I called out to Kkungkkungi.
“Kkungkkungi! RamG Thunder!”
RamG Thunder was a combo move with Ahn Ahn.
With a vroom—Kkungkkungi, riding on Ahn Ahn’s back, descended and struck the opponent like lightning, the power of which was akin to a falling thunderbolt.
“Where do you think you’re going? Go, bees!”
Vroom—
However, adorable bees resembling bumblebees obstructed Ahn Ahn’s flight.
What I needed to do at that moment was—.
“Kbang Kbang! Sing a song!”
—Hioong…!
Kkungkkungi started singing, “Hioong, hioong—,” while playing a small guitar made of spider silk and the Mana Hydrolight rescued during the typhoon with its eight legs, ding ding ding—!
Kkungkkungi’s song had a strangely marvelous effect.
If I had to point out one major aspect, it was that it made the shoulders of the listeners bob up and down.
—Hioong…! Hioong…!
The bees, enchanted by Kkungkkungi’s beautiful melody, began buzzing around, moving as if performing a military dance, and eventually a gap opened up for Ahn Ahn to squeeze through.
—Zji—
With wings spread wide, Ahn Ahn and Kkungkkungi, who was riding on its back, dove down toward Tang So-hae like a bolt of lightning.
—Krurung…!
Kkungkkungi, descending rapidly with a thunderous sound.
The fur of the Squirrel Beast Kkungkkungi was prone to magical properties, and through friction with the air, static electricity crackled around Kkungkkungi’s tail as it collided with Tang So-hae.
“RamG Thunder!”
Pajiziji—!
The collision of RamG Thunder!
“AAAGH!”
The effect was tremendous, as large currents visibly sparked in all directions.
Tang So-hae, who should have fallen easily from that strike meant for B-Rank Demons, staggered but somehow endured!
“Cough, do you think I will lose here? I am not a bee, but a phoenix!”
—Hoo, hoo…!
At that moment, Kalilnoi, who had been waiting for an opening, descended quickly.
With her large wings, she began to strike Tang So-hae, and her attack was so powerful that it generated gusts of wind akin to an A-Rank Demon.
From the sidelines, Inoi shouted.
“That’s the Wing Flurry! It’s a powerful secret move that nymphs who can transform into owls, like Kalilnoi, can use…!”
“Muhuhuhu—. Are you starting to understand that Kung Fu has its origins in Nymphs? From now on, it should be called Nymph Fu! The origins of Nymph Fu are even painted on the melon…!”
Padadadadadadadadak—
Colliding wings with Tang So-hae.
She curled up her body and shouted loudly.
“This is unfair! How many animals are you summoning!”
“Unfair? That doesn’t seem like a proper thing to say from someone who poisoned me before the match even started.”
Ultimately, Tang So-hae was beaten senseless by Kalilnoi’s Wing Flurry and ended up falling unconscious.
—Pirrurururu…!
With Tang So-hae defeated, Kalilnoi, feeling pleased, shouted with a high-pitched voice. She looked incredibly brave and magnanimous, as if she could star in a documentary series.
A person with a beard like Guan Yu’s admired her with a loud exclamation.
“Did they call it a tiger owl? It seems as if a legendary phoenix is flapping its wings and appearing in reality! I, the master of the Martial Realm, Mang Joo-cheon, want to bestow the title of ‘Phoenix’ upon that owl!”
Phoenix—
That title is akin to a moniker given to women who performed well in this martial competition.
To think Kalilnoi received it!
“Titles such as Poison Phoenix and Sword Phoenix are typically decided based on the individual’s traits. That auspicious tiger owl is already akin to a phoenix, so how about calling her Bong Bong Kalilnoi?”
Bong Bong Kalilnoi.
Among the countless titles of phoenixes throughout China’s 4,000-year history, there couldn’t possibly be a cuter title than this.
I thought it was a splendid moniker.
Bong Bong.
So cute!
It seems that the Martial Realm leader knows how to bestow nicknames.
However, Kalilnoi, not particularly fond of it, turned her head away and flew off at a distance.
—Hoo, hoo…!
In any case, the outcome of the match was clear.
Since Tang So-hae was knocked out after being hit by Kkungkkungi’s RamG Thunder and Kalilnoi’s Wing Flurry, she was like a dough resting and unable to rise.
It was only natural.
One Kalilnoi alone could handle even the average A-Rank awakened. Kalilnoi’s feathers were thick like a wasp, making the bees’ venom ineffective.
“Now. Hurry up and hand over the antidote.”
“Tang Hehehe…! Haildo, don’t you think you won? No. The fight isn’t over yet.”
But Tang So-hae’s expression was far too confident for that of a loser, and her demeanor was arrogant. She finally lay flat on the ground.
She said.
“If you want it so badly, why not find it yourself? Search my body!”
“What?”
I was taken aback.
Did Tang So-hae hide the antidote somewhere on her body?
That round orb-like thing!
“It will be quite a sight when they film you searching my body for the antidote. Do you have the guts to do that?”
It is said that a master sees one move ahead while a genius sees two moves ahead.
But Tang So-hae was looking three moves ahead.
What should I call someone like her?
“You’ve already fallen into my trap. Do you know what the ultimate martial art of the Tang Clan is? Manten Huawoo? No, that’s old news. I will show you! Manten Bongwoo!”
Vroom—
Bees that had been resting their tired wings near Tang So-hae quickly shot up toward the sky.
And they charged at me as if they were pouring rain.
“Uwah!”
I had seen a video of bees covering giant hornets to stop them from moving by overheating their bodies.
I felt like that giant hornet.
Fluffy bumblebees were covering my body!
“If you get stung by the Basikir Bumblebees’ venom, even an awakened one would be in pain for a few days! So, how about it? Are you beginning to regret not surrendering?”
This tension-filled situation.
I could hardly help but laugh.
“Puhaha, that tickles!”
It was because the bees were moving around and tickling me.
The bees neither stung me nor attacked; they simply clung to me.
Like playful puppies vying for attention.
“Now, be good.”
I slowly brushed the bees off my body. They were quite obedient, and as if reluctant to leave me, they only shook their wings.
Tang So-hae looked shocked at this sight.
“Why aren’t the bees stinging you?”
“That’s because they have no reason to sting me. These bees are kind. And you, Tang So-hae, who is friends with such kind bees, must also be a kind person. That’s why they call you the Bee Tang So-hae.”
While people said Tang So-hae was a ruthless schemer devoid of blood or tears…
Having met her in person, I didn’t think that way.
The bees liked Tang So-hae.
The nymphs liked Tang So-hae.
I thought there must be desperate circumstances making her act that way.
“Hand over the antidote. If you tell me what problem you’re suffering from, I might be able to help you as much as I can.”
# # #
Tang So-hae was shocked.
Her every scheme was completely sealed off.
The animals Haildo commanded were far more powerful than she had imagined, to the point where she couldn’t even move her hands or feet.
Having become friends with the bees through various experiences, Tang So-hae knew well how exceptional Haildo’s control over animals was.
“If that’s the case, even facing A-Rank Liu Hua, I could hold my own…”
What was more surprising was that Haildo didn’t waver at all, even after being subjected to the spring medicine “Kirilpill.”
In fact, the effects of the medicine must have been circulating since they were grappling against each other.
When Liu Hua’s clothes were torn, Tang So-hae thought Haildo would lose control and pounce on Liu Hua.
But Haildo did not do that.
Even now, with Tang So-hae collapsing.
“His body has been exposed to the scent that could make any man lightheaded. Yet, this man… how strong is his self-control? What drives his mind so fiercely?”
Extreme self-restraint.
The pinnacle of rigorously disciplining oneself.
One could even call it a venomous heart.
“This man never needed an antidote in the first place.”
And on the other side, a hint of resentment peeked through.
“I lost. I’ve been defeated. As a martial artist. As a poison master. As someone who commands animals. And… as a woman.”
To not even be touched by a man who had succumbed to spring medicine.
Tang So-hae’s heart trembled with emotions she had never felt before.
“Haildo, you said you wanted to help me. But you mentioned you came to save Xiao Xiao. Saving Xiao Xiao and helping me. These two are an impossible dream to achieve simultaneously.”
Does this strong-hearted man know?
That sometimes, to gain something, one must lose something else.
That there are dilemmas where one must give up one of the two.
“But for now, I will especially congratulate you. Haildo, congratulations. You are the victor of this martial competition.”
“But it’s only the top 8! And about saving Xiao Xiao and helping you being an impossible dream at the same time, could you explain what you mean? And hand over the antidote as well.”
The Chinese elders watching this scene on the screen soon heard alarming news from the approaching messengers.
“What? The remaining opponent has complained of intense stomach pains and forfeited?”
“What the…! If that’s the case…!”
The unexplained complaints of stomach pains from the remaining competitors signified one thing.
A foreign victor had emerged for the first time in this martial competition.
“Muhuhuh, that Illinois has bet a considerable amount on the victory of the House Master…! That Illinois will once again become Kaiser… No, Emperor Illinois with this China money…!”
