Sama Hyeon ran his tongue over his lips, tasting the coppery tang of his own blood. The demonic master before him was of a different dimension entirely than the thugs he had faced before. Yet, contrary to his battered appearance, Sama Hyeon’s mind was chillingly calm. He sensed that the man standing before him was not one for idle threats. If he said he would break his limbs, he would do it. If he said he would kill his siblings, he would do that as well.

Damn it… If I only had more internal energy, I might have stood a chance…

What a vermin-like life. Ah, truly, bravo. Bravo!

A laugh was all that would come.

‘Good fortune is often followed by disaster.’ The old sayings were never wrong, not even once.

His time performing in the opera had at least taught him some of the classics. A good thing had happened, so it was self-evident that something terrible would follow.

Sama Hyeon scoffed at himself. Since it’s come to this, I’ll take at least half his face with me. If mutual destruction was impossible, then achieving half of it was the next best thing.

“Old man. Come to think of it… that face of yours looks pretty good. You gonna give it to me?”

“You leave me no choice. If you are this desperate to die, then… do not resent this old one too much.”

From the depths of Sama Hyeon’s chest, a madness began to surge.

No internal energy? Fine. Then I’ll just make my Innate True Qi rampage!

It would be agonizing, he figured, but it seemed like a decent way to die.

Sama Hyeon’s danjeon began to churn. The boy had made his decision, to see this through to the end.

It was then that a voice cut through the tension.

“Hey, mister. Hands off my patient’s guardian.”

Keong! — Master, that one is strong. His vitals are difficult to bite.

Where Sama Hyeon raised his eyes, he saw Jin Cheon-hee.

The demonic master asked, “What is your relationship to this boy?”

At his question, Jin Cheon-hee’s eyes gleamed.

“The relationship between a primary physician and a patient’s guardian! He hasn’t finished paying his medical bill. So, hands off.”

Three favors.

The words made a hollow laugh escape Sama Hyeon’s lips.

Primary physician and guardian.

Jin Cheon-hee spoke to Sama Hyeon.

“I don’t know what you’re trying to do right now, but don’t do anything dangerous until you’ve paid your bill.”

How did he know? Was it because of that mystical internal energy from the Zhuge clan? Or maybe that spiritual beast of his smelled something strange? He’s right. I haven’t paid my medical bill yet.

Just how long did that physician intend to keep saving him?

Sama Hyeon felt an emotion for Jin Cheon-hee that he couldn’t possibly name.

***

He had, at least, managed to stop Sama Hyeon from detonating his Innate True Qi.

Whew, my bullshit landed. Thank god.

From his perspective as a modern surgeon, Jin Cheon-hee found that these Gangho folks threw their lives away far too easily.

I’d have been in deep shit if I hadn’t read the novel.

There was a description in the story that when the Hao Sect Leader made his Innate True Qi rampage, his palms would stain red. Normally, it would be almost impossible to distinguish that sign from a hand simply red from the cold. And by the time one could tell the difference, the Innate True Qi would have already begun to run rampant, and it would be too late to save him.

Jin Cheon-hee had been able to stop Sama Hyeon half because he’d read the original novel.

The other half was just an old man’s hunch.

In his not-so-short previous life, Jin Cheon-hee had seen countless times how, when a human was well and truly fucked, they would manage to make the situation even more fucked. Given the circumstances, and as he was a modern man slowly getting used to the Murim’s unique sensibilities, he had thankfully been able to make an accurate guess.

Even if I’d been wrong, the line I used was safe enough.

It was a relief to know his “social skills” were useful in times like these.

Alright, now to figure out just who this mountain of a man is…

Thanks to the Profound Primordial Complete Foundation Divine Art, Jin Cheon-hee’s thoughts were flowing faster and more clearly than ever. Hands and face as hard as old wood… that’s a pretty specific description. It must be in the novel somewhere. He narrowed down a few candidates, then filtered them again based on physique and approximate age. Finally, he reached a conclusion and his eyes narrowed.

“Those are the characteristics of the Ancient Wood Demonic Art. Don’t tell me you’re the Ancient Wood Blood Demon?”

“Kekeke. The child has sharp eyes, I see.”

It seemed he was correct.

Ancient Wood Blood Demon.

He was a villain who had appeared in the novel. In wuxia terms, he was about a mid-boss. He took orders from the true bosses—the Sect Leaders, Demonic Leaders, and other monsters—but he also had his own grunts to command. If one had to describe it, he was the “middle management” of the Murim. These mid-boss villains acted as the hands and feet of the final bosses, and he’d almost never seen one with a pleasant personality.

The sorrow of middle management.

He had read a description that the Ancient Wood Blood Demon‘s martial prowess was at the Transcendence Realm. That level of skill was enough to seize the position of Sect Leader or Guardian in a small-to-medium-sized sect.

So why is a guy of that stature ‘losing face’ by coming here to catch a single kid?

This was why Mu Hwa and Mu Wol couldn’t move. In a “Confucian” world like this, obsessed with hierarchy, rank was life. And by that, he meant literally life. Still, seeing no other minions around, it seemed they had managed to cut off the situation at a certain level. They had done the most they could as practical managers.

I’d better watch my mouth. If I let slip that Mu Hwa and Mu Wol told me, they could have their danjeon destroyed and their meridians torn.

Jin Cheon-hee signaled Hwang-gu by stroking his head.

Keong! — I’ll just start by barking, Master!

Jin Cheon-hee spoke, his voice full of meaning. “One should never ignore the information of the Beggar’s Sect.”

“Kekeke, I see you have the Beggar’s Sect’s spiritual beast. You must be the Little White Dragon. I have heard the reports.”

Good boy, Hwang-gu.

With that one sentence, Jin Cheon-hee had subtly erased all traces of Mu Hwa and Mu Wol.

The Ancient Wood Blood Demon spoke. “I heard you were the one who treated this child. Just as the rumors say, the Little White Dragon does not abide injustice. However, this is a matter for our Sect. Back away.”

It seemed the Ancient Wood Blood Demon also wanted to end this amicably if possible.

He really is a model middle manager. He’s maintaining his ‘form’ while delivering his lines perfectly.

Jin Cheon-hee could feel the man’s weight of experience.

Ancient Wood Blood Demon was part of the Hao Sect, wasn’t he? I remember reading that he was originally from the Ancient Wood Demonic Sect, a splinter group from the Demonic Cult, and took refuge in the Hao Sect when his own sect collapsed.

No wonder Mu Hwa and Mu Wol had their hands tied.

Internal competition within the Hao Sect.

In modern terms, the Hao Sect was a cartel, a coalition of various criminal organizations. Excluding the minor groups, it was largely divided into five major branches, and he’d heard the competition among them was fierce. Ancient Wood Blood Demon belonged to the Five-Killing Sect, which was composed of assassins and killers. Mu Hwa and Mu Wol belonged to a different branch, the one that managed the brothels, taverns, and inns.

I can practically hear the stress-induced ‘sari’ forming in Mu Hwa and Mu Wol’s bodies.

Dealing with a high-ranking, nasty-tempered middle manager from an entirely different division was a stomach-ulcer-inducing task.

“Is this an independent action by the Five-Killing Sect?”

“Hmph. You know a great deal about our Sect. The Beggar’s Sect… no. Your master, White Qilin, must have taught you. A man like a snake, cunning and cold.”

The Gangho was, as always, both vast and small. They both knew what was at stake. But he had insulted his master, and if he just stayed quiet, he wasn’t a true man of the Gangho.

Jin Cheon-hee stated this point, as politely and firmly as possible.

“Please do not insult my Master’s name.”

“Kekekekeke. You were far too calm for a child, so I threw a stone to see… Now that is a more fitting expression.”

Jin Cheon-hee stared at him, his expression chilling over. At the same time, he finished his calculations.

He saw my reaction and realized I won’t back down.

In the Gangho, insulting one’s master was no different from insulting their parents. The fact that he’d brought it up meant two things.

First: If I don’t back down, we fight.

Jin Cheon-hee’s hand rested on the hilt of his Ice Clarity Sword. A glacial chill seeped into his palm.

Second: It’s a Unorthodox Faction-style warning that to him, I’m nothing more than a single meal.

Screee—

Jin Cheon-hee drew the Ice Clarity Sword. He had replaced the hilt, the blade, and the scabbard. Outwardly, it looked no different from an ordinary sword. But its sound was incomparably pure and clear.

“Do you intend to block me?”

He’s asking even though he already knows.

If that was the case, then Jin Cheon-hee, the modern man, would have to respond with a fittingly grand line, just as the Murim’s etiquette required. Wasn’t the Gangho a place where you lived and died by your ‘form’?

Even in this situation, Jin Cheon-hee didn’t completely let go of the possibility of dialogue. But his opponent wasn’t a modern man; he was a Blood Demon of the Murim.

“He is still just an unknown child. If you, the great Ancient Wood Blood Demon, were to personally dirty your hands with him, all of the Gangho would laugh you to scorn.”

“Do you think I am unaware of that? There are some things in this world that are unavoidable.”

So he’s willing to endure the shame to get the job done. This is… dammit.

It seemed he was here because his superiors told him to be. In that case, Jin Cheon-hee had no answer. To persuade him, he’d have to persuade the man’s boss, but it’s not like they had modern communication devices. The man at the bottom was just doing what he was told.

Jin Cheon-hee said, “Then how about this? I know that this matter is not to your liking, either. Therefore, I will fight in his stead.”

“You… a proxy battle for that child?”

“Yes. If I lose, do as you wish. But if I win, please, just this once, you must back down.”

This was, in essence, just putting a plausible name on what was going to happen anyway. But the Blood Demon likely didn’t want to tarnish his name by forcibly abducting an unknown child. At Jin Cheon-hee’s words, a flicker of interest showed in his eyes.

“The name ‘Little White Dragon’ may be insufficient for the great Ancient Wood Blood Demon, but I assure you, it is far better than the dishonor of having fought this small child behind me.”

At those words, Sama Hyeon’s eyes widened.

“Hyung…!”

Jin Cheon-hee blocked Sama Hyeon as he tried to jump out, injured as he was.

“Trust me.”

“Are you trying to die?!” Sama Hyeon screamed. “It’s fine! Just take me! But don’t you lay a single finger on him!”

But it was the Ancient Wood Blood Demon who answered, ”I do not know why a brat like you is going this far, but… very well. I, too, do not wish to gain such a disgraceful reputation. Let us have a match.”

Jin Cheon-hee let out a breath of relief. Sama Hyeon was still yelling.

“I told you to take me!”

Jin Cheon-hee grabbed Sama Hyeon’s shoulder with one hand. Then, he pulled at his facial muscles and flashed that infuriatingly confident smile. “You trust this hyung. Right?”

“What…”

“I’m strong. So trust me and wait.”

Jin Cheon-hee did what he did best. With that almost-smug, confident voice, he ruffled Sama Hyeon’s hair. At his touch, Sama Hyeon finally slumped to the ground. Was it because he had decided to trust Jin Cheon-hee? Or because he knew he couldn’t change what was happening?

“…Don’t die. That bastard is strong.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

With those final words, Jin Cheon-hee stood with his back to Sama Hyeon.

A narrow alley. Two men stood facing each other.

Jin Cheon-hee leveled his Ice Clarity Sword at the man.

If Master could see me now, he’d say his choice was the right one.

This was why he had prepared the Ten Thousands Cold Iron shackles instead of a sword. He knew that giving him a blade would just lead him to a battlefield. Blocking him was the first priority. Besides, he already had the Ice Clarity Sword made of Northern Cold Iron; adding another Ten Thousand Years Cold Iron sword on top of that would be meaningless.

The best way not to die was to avoid dangerous situations in the first place.

But… that wasn’t the kind of man Jin Cheon-hee was.