Chapter 170

Following Yongyeon’s guidance, Wang Miaoyang arrived at the open field outside the village and furrowed her brows at the scene before her.

A sense of unease crept in…

Something was about to happen.

Her precious disciple, Sima Mantian, was surrounded by an unknown group.

And Ma Yang, wearing Sima Mantian’s torn clothes.

“…Ma Yang, my senior.”

She instinctively realized. So, Ma Nong was indeed Ma Yang, her senior.

Yongyeon’s existence, the accessories Ma Nong carried—everything made sense now.

Could it be that Ma Nong was actually Ma Yang?

That feeling had persisted.

Perhaps it was because of her own youthful appearance due to the “Banrohwandong” technique.

But the way Ma Nong had acted… It was hard to believe she was her senior, given their past enmity.

Memories of Ma Nong clinging to her during snacks and breaks surfaced.

“Hehe~ Master Wang Miaoyang, your cheeks are so soft! So cute! I’m gonna eat them!”

*Squish squish~!*

“Kyaa~ Ma, Ma Nong! Stop it…!”

The image of Ma Nong clinging to her, squishing and pulling her cheeks, came to mind.

‘Then, what were all those actions for…?’

To hide her identity? To that extent?

No. Ma Yang’s eyes opened and closed.

Thinking back now, it was just like how Ma Yang used to tease her when she was younger.

“Miaoyang~ So cute! Those adorable cheeks~ I’m gonna eat them!”

*Squish squish~!*

“Kyaa~ Senior! Stop it!”

The playful, affectionate, and caring senior who always looked out for her.

Ma Yang hadn’t changed.

The way Ma Nong appeared wasn’t a lie. That was also Ma Yang’s true self.

Then, what was the meaning of Ma Yang holding a sword over their master’s body that day?

Wang Miaoyang didn’t know what had happened that day. That’s why she wanted to know.

“…Miaoyang.”

Hearing Ma Yang’s trembling voice calling her, Wang Miaoyang glanced at her.

“I won’t ask now.”

She turned her gaze back to the woman who seemed to be the leader of the group surrounding Ma Yang and Sima Mantian.

“…But after this is over, tell me.”

She wanted to hear it directly from Ma Yang.

Not through assumptions, but directly from her.

And to protect her precious disciple.

Wang Miaoyang stepped forward, shielding Sima Mantian from the enemies’ gaze.

Though, due to the height difference, Sima Mantian’s upper body was still visible.

“Disciple, you’ve suffered. Leave the rest to me.”

Though a bit… no, quite strange.

She spoke in a tender, serious voice, filled with affection for her precious disciple, quirks and all.

…But unfortunately.

The clueless Sima Mantian didn’t listen.

“Master, I’m sorry. This is my fight now.”

“Huh? Disciple? Sima Mantian!?”

“Please watch from behind.”

He confidently stepped forward, leaving a bewildered Wang Miaoyang behind.

“?????”

Wang Miaoyang, caught off guard, had question marks popping above her head. Jang Sam-i, who had appeared out of nowhere, patted her shoulder.

“Well~ It can’t be helped.”

He had come chasing after them when Sima Mantian and Ma Nong didn’t return for dinner, and now Wang Miaoyang had joined the escape.

Looking at them, it seemed like they thought dinner would magically appear just by breathing.

Anyway, though he didn’t fully understand the situation, he knew that Sima Mantian in this state wouldn’t listen.

So, he decided to watch from the sidelines and step in if things got dangerous.

Jang Sam-i watched Sima Mantian’s retreating figure and lightly raised the corner of his mouth.

“That’s just how the young master is.”

Sima Mantian being Sima Mantian.

It was a ridiculous statement, but Wang Miaoyang and Ma Yang strangely found themselves agreeing.

It couldn’t be helped.

Sima Mantian and Jin Hyeryeong’s gazes met, glaring at each other.

Step by step, they closed the distance.

“You should’ve stayed hiding behind your mom, showing off like that.”

“I won’t deny wanting to act spoiled on Master Wang Miaoyang’s cute back. But I’m the one who’s going to take you down.”

“Hoho~ Are you really planning to fight me seriously? How scary.”

“Ha! Whether you’re a woman or a man, that’s not the point!”

Jin Hyeryeong’s light provocation made Sima Mantian smirk, almost devilishly.

“You’re a martial artist, aren’t you? Come at me. You want to take me down too, don’t you? Right?”

Yeah, it couldn’t be helped.

When martial artists’ eyes meet, it’s a battle.

At Sima Mantian’s response, Jin Hyeryeong’s eyes widened momentarily before she smirked and slowly drew the sword at her waist.

“…I’ll give you a little more credit. That attitude isn’t bad.”

Seeing this, Sima Mantian also drew his sword, holding it in one hand and his staff in the other.

Now, the past didn’t matter.

[You tempted me first! Crazy psycho lesbian] [Wow~ Two vaginas! Polar Bear Guard lesbian with male intrusion]

It was the martial world’s fate to fight.

Sima Mantian and Jin Hyeryeong.

As they closed the distance, no one else existed in their eyes.

They just wanted to utterly defeat the opponent before them.

To prove they were right…

They fiercely clashed.

The energy emanating from the two martial artists collided, intertwining in a strange atmosphere as if trying to devour each other.

*Go- gogogogogo-!!*

In the suffocatingly heavy air.

Sima Mantian took the initiative.

**Soul Flight and Spirit Scatter Technique**

Sima Mantian’s body swayed, then he lunged at Jin Hyeryeong’s side in an instant.

But he passed right by her.

‘This is…!’

It wasn’t just a miss. Jin Hyeryeong hadn’t moved much to dodge.

He immediately planted his staff on the ground, using it as a pivot to turn his body.

Regaining his stance, he looked at Jin Hyeryeong.

The subtle sensation from his sword and staff.

‘…She didn’t just block. She redirected my attack.’

She was still in the same spot. Jin Hyeryeong hadn’t moved from where she stood.

The only difference was the perfectly drawn circle beneath her feet.

Seeing that, he understood immediately.

…She was stepping on the Five Elements. He had practiced it like crazy too.

“Taijiquan… no, Taiji Sword.”

**Zhang Family Taiji Sword**

Jin Hyeryeong’s feet moved gracefully, following the Five Elements. No gaps were visible.

“That flashy footwork just now, was it an application of Wudang’s Taijiquan?”

She looked at Sima Mantian with a relaxed smirk.

“Not bad. A bit rough, mixing this and that.”

Sima Mantian smirked bitterly at Jin Hyeryeong’s provocation.

Zhang Sanfeng’s legacy, Wudang’s representative martial art, the Taiji series.

It was great when I used it…

But when the opponent uses it, it’s suffocating.

To borrow a card game term, is this the Twelve O’Clock Taiji? It’s a mountain.

How do you break through that?

**Soul Flight and Spirit Scatter Technique**

What else can I do but charge in again?

Shifting positions, Sima Mantian’s body left afterimages as he rushed at Jin Hyeryeong.

Dog Chasing Stick Technique – Reverse Cut Dog’s Butt

Swinging the staff horizontally, aiming for the dog’s butt.

The sword and staff, imbued with rotational force, swung at Jin Hyeryeong.

*Clang-!*

But they were naturally blocked by Jin Hyeryeong’s sword.

Rotation was swallowed by stronger rotation.

Sima Mantian tried to quickly retract his sword and staff, but they stuck to Jin Hyeryeong’s sword, unable to break free.

Pulled along, the direction of his force was controlled.

His own strength, combined with the Taiji force, swept him away in the direction Jin Hyeryeong swung her sword.

“Ugh-!?”

He rolled on the dirt ground.

“Disciple-!”

Wang Miaoyang, watching from behind, was startled and tried to intervene.

But Jang Sam-i stopped her.

“Wait. The young master hasn’t lost yet.”

If Wang Miaoyang intervened now, the one-on-one fight Sima Mantian had created would turn into chaos.

And as he said earlier, Sima Mantian hadn’t lost yet.

Jang Sam-i spoke calmly to Wang Miaoyang, who was biting her lip in anxiety.

“It’s okay. The young master is much stronger than before.”

“…I know. But.”

Wang Miaoyang’s trembling golden eyes watched Sima Mantian’s back.

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him. He was a reliable and dependable disciple.

But she couldn’t help feeling anxious.

“That guy will be fine.”

Ma Yang, who had been silent due to the complicated situation, chimed in.

After all, Sima Mantian, covered in dirt, stood up immediately, his eyes still fierce.

The same face he had when he provoked her, calling her “damaged goods.”

It was an annoying face, but now it looked just a tiny bit cool, which was the most annoying part.

“…I don’t have the right to say this, but.”

Ma Yang quietly added, as if realizing she had said something unnecessary.

But Wang Miaoyang replied in a lighter tone.

“It’s okay. When it comes to martial arts, my senior was always strict.”

“……….”

Wang Miaoyang’s golden eyes no longer wavered.

Calming her trembling heart, she watched Sima Mantian’s fight as his master.

Ma Yang, without realizing it, tightly gripped the clothes Sima Mantian had draped over her, watching him.

***

Though he rolled on the dirt like a half-seal.

I immediately stood up and took my stance.

Two charges gave me a rough idea.

“So, I told you it was rough. You didn’t really think you could take me down with just that footwork, did you?”

I smiled along with Jin Hyeryeong’s mockery.

“Don’t be so harsh.”

I smirked with a wolf-like grin.

“It’s just the beginning now.”