Chapter 165

I must train hard to become stronger.

It’s a boring, trivial, yet undeniably true statement.

But I—.

I am Sima Mantian, the genius who even deceives the heavens. I have my own path.

That is, to double my training in one go.

Double Hands Fighting (雙手互搏), Left and Right Jeonjin Sword Technique (全眞劍法).

Right hand and left hand.

Holding a sword in each hand, I thrust and slash, unleashing the Jeonjin Sword Technique in various directions.

Like all martial arts.

The Jeonjin Sword Technique becomes more powerful the more you train.

So, by using Double Hands Fighting to perform martial arts simultaneously, I train twice as much.

Truly a genius idea. I am amazing.

Kukuku— Ordinary people should just train hard. A genius will train twice as much.

“It’s a double EXP event, datchaaa—!!”

And a moment later.

“Huff, huff… Huff… Out of breath… No way, I’d get tired twice as fast.”

Exhausted from the double workload, Mantian collapsed to the ground, sweating and drooling.

At this ridiculous sight.

Wang Miaoyang and Ma Nong looked down at Mantian with pitying eyes.

“Disciple, are you… an idiot?”

“Senior Brother, are you a moron?”

What an unfair accusation! But with my stamina drained, I could only mumble.

“Ugh… I’m not… an idiot moron… I’m a genius master who even deceives the heavens…”

“Ahaha~ That’s so like you, Young Master.”

Finding it cute, Jang Sam-i burst into laughter and brought a towel and water bottle.

“You’re smart yet foolish, which is the charming part of you, Young Master. Here, have some water.”

Too tired to move, I rested my head on Jang Sam-i’s lap and sipped from the bottle.

But his lap—or rather, his thigh—felt surprisingly soft yet firm.

…And it smelled nice too.

I hadn’t noticed before, but his figure seemed somewhat delicate and feminine.

When I made a strange expression, Jang Sam-i tilted his head.

“Young Master, what’s wrong?”

Without a word, I reached out and brushed aside the bangs covering his eyes.

“Huh? Young Master!?”

Beneath the black hair, a pair of strikingly beautiful gray eyes were revealed.

“Your eyes are really pretty.”

It was a nonsensical thing to say, but it felt like I was seeing his eyes for the first time.

Wait, have I seen similar eyes somewhere before?

Ah, I remember now. The gray-eyed female guard I recently met at the estate.

But what did Jang Sam-i’s face originally look like?

I tried to recall, but his face was obscured by a hazy fog.

Unlike Mantian, whose face stiffened in concentration.

Jang Sam-i’s face turned bright red, almost ready to explode. Where Mantian’s hand touched felt hot.

An unexpected situation filled me with confusion.

‘Ah, the Shadow Art (暗影術) has been broken!?’

The Bone Shifting Art and Reverse Transformation Art.

Along with the Shadow Art, which hinders perception, Jang Sam-i had been hiding his identity and gender while guarding Mantian.

When Mantian’s level was low, the Shadow Art prevented him from recognizing Jang Sam-i’s true appearance.

He seemed like a friendly, ordinary servant.

But as Mantian’s level increased, he began to see through the Shadow Art’s perception hindrance.

Jang Sam-i jumped up in surprise.

As a result, I hit my head on the hard floor instead of the comfortable lap.

“Ugh—!?”

“Ahaha… The water bottle’s empty. I’ll get more.”

Jang Sam-i quickly ran away.

Ma Yang, with a flushed face, frowned and asked Mantian.

“…Do you always act like that?”

“Huh? Like what?”

I asked back, confused, and Ma Nong, for some reason, looked displeased.

“…Never mind.”

Why does everyone act like they’re being flirted with, while I’m treated like a spoiled brat!

The young Ma Nong (Ma Yang, age 42) felt her pride hurt.

It’s not like she has feelings for this troublemaker Mantian, but her pride was wounded.

That guy is a bad influence on Wang Miaoyang’s teachings.

Though she looks young, Wang Miaoyang is already thirty, but to Ma Yang, she’s always been the younger sister.

‘Miaoyang is my baby. I must protect her.’

Ma Yang reaffirmed her resolve.

Meanwhile, Wang Miaoyang, hiding her true identity and observing her disciple, tilted her head.

‘…Where have I seen him before?’

Could it be that her forty-two-year-old senior, who has cared for her since childhood, is actually…

“Ah!? It’s already this late! Hehe~ Master~ Let’s have lunch together! I’ll feed you!”

“Hmm… Alright. But you don’t have to feed me.”

Wang Miaoyang, who never expected her second disciple to act like a sixteen-year-old girl without shame.

***

After lunch, Wang Miaoyang took a nap.

While the master slept, the two disciples of the Jeonjin Sect.

Mantian and Ma Nong faced each other with wooden swords. A friendly spar.

Well, Mantian begged for a lesson.

“Huh? Asking your junior sister for a lesson? Are you sane?”

The cute future master, Ma Nong, sharply retorted, but Mantian shamelessly smiled.

“I’m sane.”

They only used the Jeonjin Sword Technique.

From top to bottom, left to right, their swords clashed as they increased their speed.

The sound of clashing swords echoed.

Though limping, Mantian had the advantage in strength and build.

His powerful wooden sword aimed at Ma Nong.

But Ma Nong tilted her sword, effortlessly deflecting the force and blocking the strike.

Mantian tried to pull back and swing again.

But Ma Nong’s sword stuck to his, not letting go.

No matter how he twisted, it wouldn’t come off.

Like a snake coiling around a branch.

She clung to his sword, controlling its momentum, preventing Mantian from using his strength.

Finally, Mantian stepped back to shake off Ma Nong’s sword.

Thud—!

Seizing the opportunity, Ma Nong’s sword swiftly aimed at Mantian’s neck.

“Not bad. But a bit too hasty.”

A few years younger, the junior sister’s advice made me grin with the sword at my neck.

“See. I’m sane.”

“……!!”

Ma Nong’s eyes widened, then she frowned and pushed Mantian’s chest with her sword, knocking him down.

“Ugh—!”

“That, that’s not because I’m better!”

Unintentionally teaching Mantian again, Ma Nong—Ma Yang—blurted out.

“Senior Brother… is weak! Yeah, that’s why!”

As she spoke, the situation of the shameless Sima Mantian lying beneath her stirred a strange excitement.

…Huh? Is this a chance to repay the humiliation of being called a spoiled brat?

Ma Nong’s small foot pressed down on Mantian’s chest.

Not to hurt, but to humiliate, she pressed lightly, circling her foot.

Looking down at Mantian beneath her, she teased with a mischievous face.

“Senior Brother, losing to your junior sister~ Weak~ Weak~ Start over from the beginning.”

“I’ll learn. Teach me.”

“Huhu~ How does it feel now… What? Huh?”

But looking up at her with sparkling golden-brown eyes, without a hint of shame, she was left speechless.

He looked like a hungry beast, but for a moment, she thought his eyes were beautiful.

“I’m your junior sister. Asking a younger… girl for lessons. Aren’t you ashamed?”

“I don’t discriminate by age or gender when seeking knowledge.”

I learn what I want to learn. I eat what I want to eat. That’s Sima Mantian’s way.

He smiled with a wolfish grin.

Ma Yang looked down at him, sighed, and removed her foot.

…The mood was ruined.

In a slightly softer voice, she asked Mantian.

“Why do you want to learn?”

“Because I want to become stronger.”

“…Why do you want to become stronger?”

At Ma Nong’s question, I opened my mouth.

The reason I want to become stronger. There are many, but the first that comes to mind.

The blue eyes of young Guhae, filled with sadness as she saw me, covered in wounds, failing to stop her rampage.

I didn’t want to make her sad. I wanted to protect her.

Not just Guhae.

I want to protect those I’ve formed bonds with.

It’s just a common motive.

“I want to protect.”

“……….”

Wang Miaoyang’s face flashed through Ma Yang’s mind.

“…I have no intention of teaching you the Jeonjin Sword Technique.”

She turned away as if it was nothing.

Her beautiful purple hair fluttered.

“But I won’t mind if you learn by watching during sparring.”

Effectively declaring she would teach, I jumped up and shouted.

“Ah! You’ll do it! You’ll reveal the secrets of the Jeonjin Sword Technique—!!”

“There are no secrets! Just train hard!”

Ma Yang sighed inwardly.

No matter what, Mantian, that guy, owes her.

It’s uncomfortable to be in debt, so she’s just teaching him.

That’s all.

–

Soft Ma Yang~ Ma~Nong~ This is the rough draft of the illustration!!