Chapter 72

Now, assassination isn’t the problem. Tang Wu quickly starts thinking about how to survive from the Martial Alliance Leader, who’s like a wild boar.

“Ha… ha…”

Born with the Nine Yin Divine Vein, a blessing and a curse.

Exhaling white breath, preparing for a decisive battle with Sososo, and strengthening the sword energy, Ma Yang alternates glances. The Martial Alliance Leader, Jaro, clicks his tongue and speaks to Tang Wu.

“Tsk… go.”

“What…?”

Tang Wu, unable to believe what he just heard, asks back. Jaro, with a calm face, speaks again.

“I’ll let you go. Don’t escalate things further, just leave.”

He could capture them if he wanted, but he didn’t want to waste more time worsening Sososo’s condition.

Letting the Demon Sect go right in front of him is a bit much, but he came all this way to protect the child of his deceased disciple.

‘Master, if something happens to me, please protect Sososo, that poor child, in place of her unworthy father. …I beg you.’

…If I die, it’s all meaningless.

At the unexpected proposal, the eyes of Tang Wu, the responsible elder of the Ilwol God Sect, and Ma Yang meet. The deliberation doesn’t take long.

[Ma Yang, even though we’ve only fought briefly, I can tell there’s no chance. Let’s run.]

[…Understood.]

Having already judged there’s no chance, Tang Wu and his disciples quickly prepare to retreat, as it’s an offer Ma Yang, who wanted to let them live, can’t refuse.

…But before that, one thing.

Ma Yang, with a stiff face, calls out to the arrogant junior standing behind Wang Miaoyang in a dignified voice.

“Sima Mantian. That name, that face…”

‘Hey- you crazy woman, stop bothering the cute kids and play with me.’

Like when I shouted from the top of the mountain, the part ‘crazy woman’ echoes in my head and won’t leave.

The shameless actions and voice are imprinted. My heart heats up.

“Those words and actions, I remember them clearly.”

Though phrased euphemistically, it’s essentially a declaration that I will definitely come back to kill you someday, to make you pay for the humiliation I received today.

Kying~ Kying~ Kyiing~!!

(Chingu~ Chingu~ Let’s play again next time~!!)

The Ten Thousand Swords’ Dragon Abyss also bids farewell to Mantian following its master.

Anyway, with that farewell, Ma Yang and the rest of the Ilwol God Sect quickly flee, avoiding the Martial Alliance Leader.

The bold Demon Sect’s daytime attack incident ends like that.

***

Taguung… Taguung…

Hearing the sorrowful crying, I come to my senses in the dark inner world and see the shattered Tagujang sniffling.

“Hey- Tagujang, why are you crying?”

At Mantian’s question, Tagujang hands over a phone, showing freshly uploaded posts in the Tagujang gallery.

[Honestly, if Tagujang is a water rocket, then thumbs up]

[Master’s memories, one-tool]

[Your gallery is ruined! From now on, the Manchester Immovable King gallery rules!!]

[Breaks before even fighting. That’s Tagujang’s true ability, Yongmun Tagujang]

[Ah~ Don’t tell anyone. Everyone will call me a has-been]

[Beggar bastards, all martial arts are like that~]

[Wristband, huh? Great Jeonjin Sect Master Wang Miaoyang, micro bikini pics coming up]

ㄴ [Don’t enter. It’s all Ma Yang’s crazy pics]

Looking through the exploded gallery topics, I lightly nod.

“Ah… I understand. Alright, I’ll take down all the slanderous posts about Tagujang now.”

“Ta, Taguwut-?!”

The writer’s passion and people’s interest combined to post these meaningful posts, and now they’re being taken down at will. Such tyranny can’t be tolerated.

Common sense says it’s impossible.

So, Tagujang looks at its partner with surprised eyes, but Mantian’s expression is as calm as ever.

Like the gaze of an absolute being from another realm.

“It’s okay, don’t worry. Because I am-”

A dazzling orange badge is revealed, like a hidden sun.

“The owner of the Tagujang gallery, Sima Mantian.”

Opening the gallery, I start cleaning up the burning gallery in real-time.

For the crime of slandering Tagujang, the partner martial art of the genius owner Sima Mantian who even deceives the heavens, everyone gets a 30-day 『block』.

No matter how much they cry or roll, I won’t unblock them.

Especially daring to post Ma Yang’s micro bikini pics, the lackey of the wicked Demon Sect, not even Guhae, Yeonghwa, Sososo, or Wang Miaoyang’s pics. An absolutely unforgivable act.

…But I’ll save them first.

Anyway, after roughly cleaning up the gallery like this, I naturally realize.

The fact that I’m having another usual dream.

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Blinking my eyes, I come to my senses in the dark room. I remember.

Suddenly, the Martial Alliance Leader appeared, and the Demon Sect fled. Not long after, as the tension eased, I fainted after using up all my internal energy.

‘…Pathetic.’

Getting up from the bed, I dress and go out for a night walk.

Feeling the empty space left by the shattered Tagujang, I limp slowly, walking aimlessly.

Reflecting on the weakness I felt today.

It’s not that I’m particularly saddened by the fact that I’m much weaker than Ma Yang.

The world is wide, and there are plenty of people stronger than me. It’s a natural fact. But…

I repeatedly clench and unclench my hand, which should have held a staff.

…I feel self-loathing for not being able to exert 100% of my abilities.

In the martial world, there’s a saying to hide 30% of your strength, but I don’t really like that saying.

Even if there’s a significant difference in strength, the world of fighting is such that you can be taken out by the opponent’s hidden trump card.

Hiding your strength and facing the opponent? That’s just talk from the well-fed.

Well, if you interpret it in detail, it means not to show your techniques carelessly because the martial world is full of untrustworthy people, but it’s still not my taste.

“Sigh…”

Exhaling a sigh into the air, I recall today’s fight like a Go player reviewing the day’s game.

Honestly, it’s a bit harsh to say to Cheongwon and Okhyeong, but considering my level, I shouldn’t have struggled to the point of gaining enlightenment.

…But I did struggle. Even if just briefly, I fainted and even had a dream.

The drawback was not being able to use the Dog Chasing Stick Technique because my staff was broken, but that’s no excuse.

Originally, the staff technique is my main martial art. I shouldn’t have allowed the situation where the staff is destroyed by the enemy.

…But it broke. I allowed it.

My head was filled with thoughts of buying time, knowing the opponent was much stronger, but I acted carelessly.

I couldn’t even properly execute a basic form and was cut in two.

As a result, Sososo, who rushed in to save me, created an opening and was hit by the enemy’s sneak attack, flying away.

I not only endangered myself but also my comrades.

The more I review today’s fight, the more ‘buts’ and ‘what ifs’ pile up.

Regrets pile up. Shame piles up.

Feeling the frustration rising from within, I look up at the moon in the night sky.

Guhae, who looked at me with pure eyes reminiscent of a blue sea, comes to mind.

Avoiding my father’s eyes, who outwardly shows no sign but inwardly avoids meeting Guhae, I left home and came here.

Without even seeing her face properly, we parted, meeting after five years.

Quiet and expressionless, so it’s not obvious, but she’s a smart kid. She must have grown beyond recognition. Maybe she’s already surpassed me long ago.

“……”

Have I grown compared to when I met Guhae in the past? If Guhae, who has become stronger, goes berserk like last time, can I calm her down safely?

Am I still the cool and great ‘Mantian’ to you after such a long time?

Closing and opening my eyes, I exhale deeply.

Perhaps it’s because of the night walk, but I’ve become unnecessarily sentimental.

So, I find a branch of appropriate length and hold it in my hand. I prepare to execute basic forms.

Reflection and contemplation are necessary for growth, but too much is also not good.

Mantian’s hazel eyes, which had been darkly sunken, sparkle like stars in the sky. Reciting a famous saying, I boost my energy.

‘Frustration grows a man.’

If you realize your shortcomings, just learn again.

It’s about surpassing your current self.

Imagining, aiming for the coolest me in the world.

The genius who even deceives the heavens, Sima Mantian.

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“Whoo… whoo…”

How much time has passed? After executing the martial arts I’ve learned so far in order, I catch my breath.

I sense a presence from behind. To be precise, the presence reveals itself.

“Dog Chasing Stick Technique, Jeonjin Sect, and even esoteric martial arts.”

From the shadow of a tree, the Martial Alliance Leader Jaro appears under the moonlight.

“Picking only the good stuff~ good stuff~ to learn.”

With a fierce face and gleaming eyes, showing his personality, he asks directly without any embellishment.

“You, are you a disciple of the Eight Feet Old Monster?”