Chapter 67

Invincible, invincible (無籍無敵).

Tang Wu, facing the title of someone who has provoked both the Martial World and the Imperial Court without consequence, twisted his face and cautiously took a step back.

To explain, Tang Wu wasn’t weak.

It’s just that the opponent before him was a monster among monsters, an irregular powerhouse.

This was essentially like an elephant joining a wolf fight.

‘Boo~ Don’t fight!!’

It was the epitome of irrationality.

Moreover, while Diamond Body (金剛不壞) was one thing, being Unassailable to Poison (萬毒不侵) was particularly disadvantageous against the Sichuan Tang Family’s martial arts, which primarily used poison techniques.

Fighting such a guy is foolish. We must find a way to escape this situation.

Thinking this, Tang Wu shifted his gaze to Jang Sam, who was trembling like a scared mouse after being exposed by Unknown.

The problem is, why did that idiot and Invincible interfere with the assassination plan of Namgung Sososo?

Even if the idiot was a bodyguard, if Invincible was hired by a faction supporting Namgung Sososo and opposing the faction supported by the Ilwol God Sect…

The names of countless masters and celebrities who fell by Invincible’s hand flashed through his mind.

There’s no solution. The cost-benefit doesn’t add up.

We might need to re-plan from scratch or even withdraw from the Namgung Family.

“Hey…”

Perhaps due to the prolonged silence, Unknown suddenly spread his arms towards Tang Wu, who was startled, indicating no hostile intent.

“I might seem arrogant, but I have no intention to fight, so you don’t need to be so wary.”

“Just… let us go…?”

Tang Wu, who had calculated that he might at least lose an arm while escaping, looked puzzled at Unknown’s statement of not wanting to fight.

“Yes, I intervened because someone I know seemed in danger, but I don’t know the恩怨关系 between you two.”

Unknown reassured Tang Wu with an awkward expression.

“For now, if you stop fighting in this village, I have no intention to intervene further.”

Though the tone was gentle, the underlying meaning was clear: leave now with your comrades, or I’ll kill you all.

That’s exactly how it sounded.

Tang Wu swallowed dryly, looking at the monster hidden behind a naive mask.

Though unsure of the scheme, he deduced a few facts from the conversation.

Invincible wasn’t hired by the Namgung Family and had no intention of opposing the Ilwol God Sect.

If he had intended to kill, he would have done so without a word.

Thus, it’s best to swallow pride and not provoke the sleeping monster further.

“…Understood. I’ll leave the village immediately.”

Now, I just hope Ma Yang has stopped playing around and killed Namgung Sososo.

With that, Tang Wu, not wanting to entangle further with Invincible, quickly fled using qinggong through the broken roof.

“If I interfered unnecessarily, I’m sorry.”

Jang Sam, now directly entangled with Unknown without a third party, forced a cheerful tone despite his trembling body.

“Haha~ No, thanks to you, I’m alive. Thank you.”

“Then that’s good. Ah, how is Sima Family Head doing?”

“That guy is always the same. Kukuku~ I’m a cruel wolf, but warm to my family.”

Jang Sam shrugged, lamenting his fate.

“Which is why I’m tirelessly running around doing bodyguard work, which isn’t even my position.”

At Jang Sam’s complaint, Unknown let out a characteristic weak laugh and smiled faintly.

“A bird that travels ten thousand miles at its master’s command. Truly a万鹏.”

“…….”

Though Unknown praised Jang Sam’s loyalty by slightly altering his nickname to Iron Bird, Jang Sam, who never liked his nickname, didn’t respond and changed the subject.

“…But I thought you’d turn the opponent into mush upon attack. You’re more of a pacifist than I expected.”

“Uh… I’m not a madman, so I shouldn’t kill people recklessly. It’s better to resolve things through dialogue if possible.”

The scariest thing about a madman is not knowing he’s mad.

…And though Jang Sam knows he’s not qualified to say such things, the absurdly righteous words coming from a seasoned assassin made him blurt out his true feelings.

“Not the words you’d expect from an assassin who kills for a living.”

“Ahaha… precisely because I’m an assassin, I shouldn’t kill people recklessly.”

As if hearing a funny joke, Unknown’s eyes, with a deep black rim, curved into a smile.

“Not getting paid for the job is a loss, isn’t it?”

With his breathing somewhat calmed after the fight and no more time or will to continue the conversation, Jang Sam politely bid farewell.

“Hey… then I should go help the Young Master now. Thank you for your help.”

Despite Invincible’s warning, the actions of other attackers were still uncertain, making it impossible to fully relax. However…

“Ah… for that side, things will soon be fine. Don’t worry too much.”

“…Huh? What do you mean?”

Unknown turned his head towards the direction of the Martial Alliance and took a step back.

“I can feel a massive energy rapidly approaching.”

***

Right after Tang Wu chased after Jang Sam and disappeared.

Sososo, watching the two masters Ma Yang and Wang Miaoyang emitting unusual auras in a standoff, quietly stepped back and spoke to Mantian.

“Sir Sima, the leader of the attackers seems strong. Will Taoist Wang Miaoyang be alright?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, I nodded firmly.

“Yes, she’ll be fine. Master is strong.”

It’s no empty praise. Having been taught by her, even for a short time, I know. Wang Miaoyang was stronger than anyone here.

It’s a blow to my pride, but my mediocre presence would only be a hindrance.

“For Master to lose…”

Thus, I reassured Sososo’s anxiety with faith, looking at the small yet reliable back of my young master.

“…is something I can’t even imagine.”

And then, moments later.

I was frozen in shock at the unimaginable scene before me.

“Master… lost?!”

Honestly, it wasn’t even a fight.

Wang Miaoyang’s powerful Jeonjin Sect techniques were completely dismantled by the black-haired woman.

In an instant, the pressure points on both arms were pressed, and she was subdued.

To defend my master, who turned into bubbles in a moment, their levels seemed similar to me.

It’s just that the ‘compatibility’ of their martial arts was extremely unfavorable.

A mysterious martial art from my childhood in the abandoned house came to mind.

A martial art created solely to dismantle Jeonjin Sect techniques,

“Ancient Grave Sect… Jade Maiden Heart Sutra…”

The unexpected appearance of the ‘must defeat Jeonjin’ martial art calmed my startled heart as I reminisced about the past.

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‧

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It was eight years ago, in autumn.

When I was at my softest and cutest.

“Kui kui~ Gong! Ming! Fist! Master is already a loser~ Desung!!”

“Hehe~ You’ve already learned the Empty Clarity Fist. You’ve been practicing very hard.”

During sparring with Master…

Now that I think about it, Master was just playing with me, but back then, I was thrilled with the sense of achievement from learning a new martial art and being praised by Master.

Anyway, that’s not the point. A bit later.

“Mantian, since you’ve learned the Jeonjin Sect’s martial arts, there’s a martial art you must be careful of.”

“Heeing… I really worked hard… Can’t you just call it the Unmatched in the World martial art?”

At my spoiled complaint, Master firmly shook his head and taught his lacking disciple.

“There’s no such thing as an Unmatched in the World martial art. Every martial art has its compatibility.”

If the veteran of the Martial World Online says so, what can a newbie like me do?

I closed my mouth and listened to Master’s precious teachings as usual.

That’s when the Ancient Grave Sect’s Jade Maiden Heart Sutra was mentioned.

“The essence of the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra lies in quickly subduing the opponent with swift attacks. Thus, a Jeonjin Sect martial artist is subdued the moment their techniques are dismantled.”

“Heh~ That’s fascinating. Master, can you show me a fight between Jeonjin Sect martial arts and Ancient Grave Sect martial arts using Double Hands Fighting?”

Yes, right here.

The conversation that followed became the reason I still remember the Ancient Grave Sect’s martial arts in detail.

Suddenly, Master’s kind yet stern face drooped—disheartened.

“Actually… this Master has not mastered the Ancient Grave Sect’s martial arts…”

“…Huh? You, Master?!”

The Emperor’s Sword Form of the Namgung Family, the Heavenly Mystery Steps of the Jiegal Family, the Dog Chasing Stick Technique of the Beggar Sect, the Purple Mist Divine Skill of the Huashan Sect, the Cloud Dragon Eight Forms of the Kunlun Sect, and so on.

Faced with the appearance of a martial art that even Master, who perfectly executed countless secret techniques from various sects, couldn’t master, I was shocked.

Master calmly explained to me in his usual kind yet stern voice.

“Since the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra was created by a woman, it sometimes doesn’t align well with men.”

Ah… so gender was the reason. Then there’s nothing to be done.

Just as I was nodding in understanding, the explanation continued.

“Of course, men can learn it without issue, and with sufficient talent, they can master it. However, among the martial arts included in the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra, there’s one called the Beautiful Woman’s Fist Technique.”

Master looked up at the sky with an expression similar to mine when I couldn’t learn Double Hands Fighting.

“This martial art can only be mastered by women or so-called pretty, handsome men. If an unattractive man performs it, the effect is greatly diminished, and it’s impossible to master.”

“Ah, ah… that, that kind of…!!”

Ah… the subtle and strange compatibility between people and martial arts…

That day, I couldn’t help but tremble at the appearance of a martial art that discriminates based on looks, even against those with the talent of a grandmaster.