“Yeah, I won’t ask how you cleaned up after them.”

Jin Cheonhee cut his words short.

For some reason, he didn’t feel like those bastards were still alive, and even if they were, they would be living lives not worth living.

“I said I was making an example, but basically, the Unorthodox faction operates differently from the Righteous faction’s logic. There are a lot of idiots with low intelligence, so I’m worried they might try to mess with us again~”

Crunch—

He probably at least tore off their facial skin.

“Hey, I’m also at the Transformation Realm, so you don’t need to worry about me that much.”

“Looks like the rumors are true. Ooh~ Brother, congratulations! I guess I’ll have to work hard to catch up to you, huh?”

Due to the nature of Unorthodox faction martial arts, they were quick to learn and powerful from the beginning, but it supposedly became increasingly difficult after one’s thirties.

Either one’s energy channels became twisted, leading to death by qi deviation, or one easily fell into demonic madness.

Or perhaps one hit an insurmountable wall that was impossible to break through forever.

“I’ll help you with that effort. Come find me after this is over.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I’ve already talked to Cheon Woo about it. If you train with me, it won’t take long. Don’t worry.”

“Hmm…”

Sama Hyeon narrowed his eyes in thought before responding.

“You seem to be telling the truth, brother… but I can’t shake this feeling that I’m going to suffer terribly.”

“Short-term training is always tough, Hyeon. But won’t it be worth it once you reach the Transformation Realm after all that hard work?”

Jin Cheonhee said this while gazing at Sama Hyeon with sparkling eyes.

Perhaps upon reaching the Transformation Realm, even one’s gaze gained the power to move people’s hearts. Sama Hyeon was drinking tea when he suddenly began coughing as if something had caught in his throat.

“Cough, cough! Brother, don’t tell me you ask favors of others with that expression?”

“…?”

Sama Hyeon answered.

“Alright. Fine, let’s train together.”

“Good. Just trust your brother. Suffer enough to nearly die for a bit, and once you reach the Transformation Realm, it’ll be worth it!”

That was solid logic. It was solid logic, but…

It was particularly concerning that the words “suffer enough to nearly die” came from his brother’s mouth.

However, it was a good opportunity.

The training method his brother had devised couldn’t possibly be something made carelessly.

‘Well, if the training fails, I can just hang out and come back. But knowing my brother’s personality, it’s not likely to fail… right~?’

Sama Hyeon thought that far and emptied his cup of tea.

***

The next day.

The Alliance Leader of the Martial Righteous Alliance, the Minor Cult Leader from the Demonic Cult, and the Unorthodox Alliance Leader gathered in one place.

Master Zhuge Rin, who was to serve as judge, sat in what could be considered the seat of honor. Jin Cheonhee stood behind his master.

‘Wow, this is no joke.’

Since the open space in front of the secret cave was quite large, each faction lined up, holding their respective banners.

Orthodox, Unorthodox, and Demonic.

Martial artists wearing different colored uniforms and holding different weapons had gathered to watch today’s battle.

The sound of weapons brushing against uniforms could be heard whenever they moved.

That alone was enough to make one’s heart chill, but it was even more so because they didn’t even hide their hostility toward each other.

First, from the righteous faction side, wearing neat martial uniforms, came Spear King Ak Jin.

One of the Ten Great Masters in the world, the former head of the Shandong Ak Family, and a master of the spear.

He glanced briefly at Jin Cheonhee standing behind White Dragon Zhuge Rin.

‘So it wasn’t an empty claim that he reached the Transformation Realm.’

That aura was clearly that of someone who had surpassed the Transformation Realm.

To have reached the Transformation Realm at just twenty-something years of age.

Had it been anyone else, he would have dismissed it as an empty boast.

But this was none other than the White-Robed Divine Dragon.

Anyone who had seen him fight even once would know that rumor wasn’t false.

What’s more amazing was that despite having just crossed the threshold of the Transformation Realm, his aura was remarkably stable.

‘Did he digest the enlightenment of the Transformation Realm as soon as he crossed the boundary?’

The Spear King felt conflicted as he observed the disciple who was becoming as monstrous as his own master.

‘The White Dragon Medical Pavilion still refuses to take the righteous faction’s side. Do they intend to remain neutral?’

Considering what his master White Dragon Zhuge Rin had experienced, it was natural—if it could be called natural.

It left a bitter taste in his mouth.

However, that was something to consider later. He planted his spear on the ground with a thud!

“Spear King Ak Jin of the Martial Righteous Alliance is here!”

Waaaaaah!

At that moment, all the martial artists of the Righteous faction let out a unified roar.

For them, the Eight Great Sects of the world should belong to the righteous faction.

Rather than letting the unorthodox faction and the Demonic Cult have them, it would be better if no one had them at all.

Next, as if they had been waiting, drums sounded from the Demonic Cult’s side.

In rhythm with the drums, the cult members dressed in black uniforms moved one step to the side, creating a long path. A woman in elaborate black clothing walked down that path.

Minor Cult Leader Green Mist.

She wore a sword slanted at her waist and wore a crooked smile.

As if fond of showing off, there wasn’t a place without gold from her hair ornaments to her trinkets.

Even her black uniform was embroidered with golden thread.

And the sword at her waist was decorated with jewels—so extravagantly that everyone who saw it swallowed hard.

The strange thing was that when she walked, her shoulders didn’t move at all.

If one hadn’t seen her feet, they might have had the illusion that she was floating in the air.

She stood before the Spear King.

“I am Minor Cult Leader Green Mist, the fifth Minor Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, and I’ve come here on behalf of the Sun Moon Divine Cult. If you clear the way even now, I’ll show special mercy and spare your lives.”

Wooaaaah!

As soon as her words ended, this time the Demonic Cult members all roared in unison.

It was a very powerful cry, as if they were trying to erase the shouts of the Righteous faction just now.

Now all that remained was the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.

“Hey, move aside a bit.”

“The boss says to move asiiiide!”

The unorthodox faction members, each wearing different clothes and each gripping different weapons, scattered in confusion like ants on a rainy day.

Through the midst of them walked a dark-eyed, skinny man, leaning on a cane.

Outwardly, he appeared to be in his late twenties, but that was surely because the Technique Emperor[1] had used some rejuvenation technique or delayed the effects of old age.

He walked while coughing dryly for quite some time.

His sleeves were torn off, perhaps intentionally.

From his hands to below his shoulders, he was completely wrapped in bandages inscribed with Sanskrit characters.

Perhaps because of those bandages, he looked even more like a patient.

‘That’s the Technique Emperor, one of the Two Emperors of the world?’

Despite being a man who looked like he would collapse with a single gust of wind, why was it that…

Jin Cheonhee noticed the Spear King’s palms becoming damp with sweat.

Thunk, tap. Thunk, tap.

Despite the many people around, only the sound of the Technique Emperor dragging his cane could be heard.

Finally, arriving before the two people, the Technique Emperor spoke in a phlegmy voice.

“Filthy Martial Righteous Alliance bastards. I told you to do it at night, but you insisted on holding the match early in the morning… Because of you all, at my age, I couldn’t even sleep… Damn you all. How dare you keep an old man from sleeping, you sons of bitches? Khaak, ptui!”

He now spat phlegm on the ground.

Looking at Spear King Ak Jin, he said:

“You, Spear King bastard, you call yourself Orthodox but don’t know to respect elders. You set this time for the match knowing I sleep late in the morning, didn’t you? When you die, I’ll definitely steal your corpse and turn it into a jiangshi. Even if I get beaten by the Bloodborne Eccentric, I’ll do it. Khaak, ptui!”

Jin Cheonhee thought.

‘Hmm, it seems the Bloodborne Elder Eccentric also wanted the Spear King’s body.’

At least the person in question, the Spear King, was still alive and well.

And he’d probably want to be buried in the Shandong Ak Family cemetery when he died.

In this sword-wielding Confucian world, threatening to disturb a dead body was quite a disrespectful remark.

Yet Ak Jin remained calm.

“Thank you for coming anyway, Technique Emperor.”

“If I didn’t come, you were going to declare me forfeited, you double bastard, so why is your tongue so long?”

“You haven’t aged a bit, even after ten years.”

“It’s your kind that’s aging, boy. Why would I age?”

It was clear that the Unorthodox Alliance Leader had quite a cantankerous disposition.

The Technique Emperor then glanced up at Minor Cult Leader Green Mist.

“And you, still not dead and crawling back here. You made trouble at our business place last time. Didn’t I say I’d kill you if I saw your face again? Damn it!”

Green Mist said:

“Your lack of manners remains the same, Technique Emperor. Well, all unorthodox people are like that.”

“Do you have manners because you set foot in our business place? Khaak, ptui! Anyway, you cursed Demonic Cult bastards stick your noses everywhere. You’ve got mountains of gold and treasures, yet when I see how you chase money, I’d think you were from the Beggar’s Sect.”

The Technique Emperor didn’t yield a single word.

Minor Cult Leader Green Mist was different from Spear King Ak Jin.

“Daring to call us the Demonic Cult in front of the Sun Moon Divine Cult—do you wish to die, old thing?”

Ah, she’s angry. She’s angry.

The Technique Emperor glanced in this direction.

Toward Jin Cheonhee and his master, White Dragon Zhuge Rin.

“So you really survived? I thought even if you survived, you’d be half-dead. You look healthy? Is it because of that kid?”

The Technique Emperor pointed his chin at Jin Cheonhee.

Zhuge Rin answered calmly.

“He’s both my life’s savior and my disciple.”

“I see why you’re hovering so horribly. But I recently divined the heavens, and all I saw was ill fortune ahead of your disciple. He’s going to have terribly bad luck.”

Even with those words, Zhuge Rin’s expression didn’t change.

“As the master’s life was tumultuous, the disciple’s won’t be different.”

“Well. Sure. Still, you seem to be living well these days, looking good. Not chopping everyone up, Orthodox and Unorthodox alike, when you snap like in the old days. Back when you killed all our unorthodox guys and displayed their heads on spears, I really thought you’d gone mad.”

…What exactly did my master do in his youth?

The master calmly answered.

“Those who crossed the line needed somewhat rough measures.”

“Sure, you crazy bastard. Anyway, little White-Robed Dragon over there. Thanks for treating the Hao Sect guys. I’m not the Hao Sect leader, but as the Unorthodox Alliance Leader, I’ll thank you on his behalf.”

Is he talking about treating the syphilis?

I thought he was irritable, but it seems he’s clear about debts of gratitude.

“Ah… it’s nothing. I just did what a doctor should do.”

“Right. Your life might be full of misfortune, but you should still live righteously to make it a little less difficult. Just live that way. Still, I’ll probably live longer than you anyway.”

Is that an insult or a compliment? It’s hard to tell.

Anyway, since the Technique Emperor seems as unhinged as the Bloodborne Elder Eccentric, I decided to let it go.

Both my master and the Spear King are taking it in stride.

Only the Minor Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult seemed to be genuinely upset.

Master Zhuge Rin stepped forward first to clarify the current situation.

“First of all, the three of you have gathered here because your interests align, isn’t that so?”

“Damn it… I said we should do this at night, you bastards.”

My master continued, ignoring the Technique Emperor’s words.

“In any case, everything is left to luck and the sword—that’s the way of the martial world. Then, as originally agreed, let’s start with drawing lots.”

My master held up the lot-drawing box.

A small wooden box.

But protective energy began to swirl around my master’s body.

“I promise, in the name of this Zhuge, that no one can tamper with what’s inside this box. Do you agree?”

“I agree.”

Spear King Ak Jin answered first.

The Technique Emperor clicked his tongue.

“If it’s the White Dragon brat, I can trust him. I agree.”

Reluctantly, Green Mist said:

“I also agree.”

“Then draw in the order you agreed.”

First, the Spear King drew a lot, then the Technique Emperor, and finally the Minor Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.

The three glared at each other as if they would kill each other, and then, following my master’s signal, they revealed their lots.