There was no need to concern himself with the circumstances of a villain.
Sama Hyeon was right. This was simply the path these people had chosen.
Jin Cheon-hee recalled Sama Hyeon’s words and smiled brightly.
“Please do not misunderstand. I have never courted anyone, and I possess no interest in affairs between men and women.”
This was the unvarnished truth.
“…Th-that bastard is trying to seduce even me now!”
“Youuu wretched bastard! Do you intend to disturb a Taoist’s heart with that beauty of yours? You are arrogant beyond measure! A lecher who cannot even distinguish between men and women!”
Conversing with a stone wall would yield better results.
Since matters had devolved to this state, Jin Cheon-hee decided to at least engage his mechanism for positive thinking.
[Hye-ah… Am I really that handsome?]
At that telepathic message, Sama Hye looked dumbfounded.
[Of course you are handsome, Benefactor.]
[Kehehehehe!]
Sama Hye found this facet of Jin Cheon-hee fascinating.
Her brother was deeply influenced by this side of him. Facing so many masters, he did not lose his spirit in the slightest; rather, he spoke his mind freely. Even upon hearing insults like ‘lecher,’ he was far from discouraged. instead, he maintained an attitude that screamed, ‘If you are unhappy, come at me.’
Not only was he teaching his junior that she should ram into opponents if they acted like dogs, but he even had the gall to ask if he was handsome enough to warrant such hostile reactions.
Does the Young Pavilion Master realize that it is no easy feat to be called a ‘poisonous mushroom’ within the White Qilin Medical Pavilion, a place already rumored to be teeming with handsome men and beautiful women?
It was obvious that consuming such a mushroom would kill you, yet countless physicians had fallen into their first loves precisely because of that face. There were even young disciples who wept because they weren’t called to serve the Young Pavilion Master’s red bean tea, claiming they would rather take a bite of that face and die than live without seeing him.
To decide to work there just to glimpse his face, fully knowing the murderous workload, was an incredible testament to his allure. It would be less tragic to be bewitched by a nine-tailed fox and have one’s liver eaten.
On top of that, he distinguished between public and private matters with razor-sharp precision, yet fed them all impeccably. He smiled and provided snacks every lunch.
Ultimately, she had to perform an enormous amount of labor, but the Young Pavilion Master’s food was so delicious she gained weight, and he seemed to grow handsomer with every passing day.
To make matters worse, he occasionally went on long-term business trips, making people pine for him.
Of course, when he departed for those long trips, reason rejoiced at the freedom, but emotion grabbed reason by the collar, lamenting that they wouldn’t see those snacks, that food, and that face for a season. Furthermore, perhaps due to some shift in his internal energy recently, he had become handsome enough to make one question if he were truly human. The number of disciples thinking they would rather drink his red bean tea and die was increasing by the day.
Young Pavilion Master, you are brewing poison with your beauty. You are handsome enough that the children would truly eat it and die!
But saying this aloud was a bit… much. So, she chose her words as carefully as possible.
[Yes. Lately, it seems your… appearance has really bloomed, shall I say? You have become extremely handsome.]
Jin Cheon-hee pondered this.
I see. Is it the influence of internal energy?
There hadn’t been a drastic change in the shape of his features. His skin might have become clearer due to the influence of the Yin Cold Qi, but more than that, the light in his eyes must have deepened.
Well, fine. Let’s make all our kids comfortable while we’re at it.
Work was arduous enough; if they got stressed by stalker-like lunatics like this, nothing would get accomplished. It would be best to ensure they didn’t have to worry about anything other than their duties.
You guys will be the first example.
At that moment.
Jin Seong-ja, the One Sword of Kongtong, released his spirit.
Jin Cheon-hee countered, releasing his own spirit without being pushed back in the slightest. As if ink were spreading through clear water, the surrounding air began to be dyed by the clashing pressure of the two masters.
Creak.
Hairline cracks began to form on the wooden floorboards.
“One Light, it is inappropriate for you to duel the Young Pavilion Master of the Hwaju Medical Pavilion. He has only now reached the first-rate level; his bones would merely break against a peerless master like you.”
“First of all, I do not break bones. I only dislocate them. Second, wasn’t it Young Pavilion Master Yang who requested the duel?”
“Therefore, this Taoist will duel as a proxy. Young Pavilion Master Yang was a lay disciple who trained in our sect for a while, so there should be no problem.”
Aha, so this was the intention?
He had wondered why these mongrels were posturing like this. The reason had finally become clear.
The Kongtong Sect and the Hwaju Medical Pavilion had decided to form an alliance, and the Young Pavilion Master of the Hwaju Medical Pavilion was acting out to create a ‘justification’ to teach the White Qilin Medical Pavilion a lesson.
Of course, it’s unlikely that the foolish Yang Bing planned this from the beginning…
Jin Cheon-hee lifted his blue eyes from Yang Bing to target the others.
…They’re just utilizing the fact that he’s making a pass at Hye-ah as usual because it suits their agenda?
Everyone’s mind moved truly fast.
Indeed, they were the old monsters of the Gangho. The young could never execute a scheme like this. This was a method usable only by cunning old foxes who had engaged in countless struggles within the martial world.
Thinking this, Jin Cheon-hee moved on to the next stage of his analysis.
If he fought the One Sword of Kongtong and lost, the status of the White Qilin Medical Pavilion would diminish from that defeat alone.
And what if they kill me in the duel?
Then the power of their Medical Pavilion would take a massive hit. Of course, following that, his master would transform into Phase Two with the Blood Qilin Mad Slaughterer and summon a blood storm that would sweep across the land… But they must have devised a way to stop that, too.
Did they underestimate his master?
Well, that was possible.
These people would have only experienced a ‘sick and angry Master’ or a ‘sick and still Master.’ They wouldn’t know how terrifying a ‘healthy and angry Master’ was.
Whatever method they thought of… with Master as he was now, it would all go wrong later and become a disaster regardless.
Hmm…
Everyone has a plausible plan. Until they get hit by Master’s kitten punch.
And wasn’t it obvious that the kitten punch of a young tiger suffering from physical deformity, and the tiger strike of a Great Tiger flying around in perfect health, were qualitatively different? If the former broke an enemy’s spine, the latter would make their head explode just by grazing it.
Phew… Did I look too easy?
He thought his martial fame had become quite known in the Gangho after defeating the Gang Leader of the Sea Sand Gang, but it seemed that was arrogance. He reflected on himself.
“Fine. Taoist Jin Seong-ja. Then when will you duel?”
“Right now, immediately.”
At Jin Seong-ja’s declaration, Jin Cheon-hee smiled brightly again and nodded.
***
Jin Seong-ja, the One Sword of Kongtong.
He had one complaint.
Why was he not counted among the Ten Greatest Masters under the Heavens?
The Gang Leader of the Sea Sand Gang?
Wasn’t that man just a bandit leader whose head Jin Seong-ja would have severed long ago had he been the one to face him? The only reason he hadn’t taken the Sea Sand Gang Leader’s head all this time was simply because there were too many pirate subordinates!
Ultimately, it was because the heavens hadn’t allowed him the opportunity.
Just because someone defeated such an insignificant Sea Sand Gang Leader, they became one of the Ten Greatest Masters under the Heavens? Was that not ridiculous?
Because of that grievance, Jin Seong-ja agreed to this plan.
To join hands with the Hwaju Medical Pavilion and, in exchange for sharing their interests, agree to dispose of One Light and dismantle the power of the White Qilin Medical Pavilion.
Yang Bing, who had recently become the Young Pavilion Master of the Hwaju Medical Pavilion, had grown up arrogant and tactless as the son of the Hwaju Medical Pavilion Master, the Hwaju, the Medicine Sage. However, for that very reason, he was a suitable pawn to use.
Hwaju, the Medicine Sage. That old fox is a man who would wield even his son for his own power in the end…
Since Sama Hye’s beauty was extraordinary, it was regrettable that the meeting of a handsome man and a beautiful woman was broken up like this, but looking at the bigger picture, wasn’t this also fate?
Thinking this, Jin Seong-ja took the lead and walked.
The Martial Righteous Alliance was the grand federation of the Orthodox martial artists of the Gangho, but in a way, it was also a singular independent force. Therefore, there were many training grounds for cultivation within its walls.
Walking into one of them, he arrived at the center of the training ground and turned around imposingly.
The martial artists of the Kongtong Sect went to stand at one end of the field, and the martial artists of the White Qilin Medical Pavilion arrived to stand at the other.
That wasn’t all.
Perhaps rumors had spread swiftly; people started entering one by one, lining the edges of the training ground.
Martial artists of the Martial Righteous Alliance. The Eight Great Clans, the Nine Great Sects, and even the Beggars’ Sect. Various figures came to watch.
This should be more than enough witnesses to see me become a new member of the Ten Greatest Masters under the Heavens.
Jin Seong-ja was certain of it.
“Young Pavilion Master Jin. Many fellow Taoists of the Gangho have gathered to witness the duel between this Taoist and yourself. We must have a fair and square duel. Of course, since we are not novices, this duel will be with real swords. You have no objections, right?”
Listening to Jin Seong-ja, Jin Cheon-hee was also advancing toward the center of the grounds.
Contrary to Jin Seong-ja’s gait, his steps were leisurely and light. He stood out even more because he was wearing a scholar’s robe with long sleeves instead of martial arts attire. Since he even had a cloak with splendid embroidery draped over his white clothes, attention focused on him all the more.
He stood like a crane, abominably showing off his unhuman beauty and unique dignity.
“Fine. Even if it is a real sword duel, there is no problem.”
“Arrogant as expected.”
It was then.
Bang!
Someone roughly threw open the main gate and strode toward the center of the training ground.
It was Martial Righteous Alliance Leader, Spear King Ak Jin.
He was walking out with a furious countenance.
“Taoist Jin Seong-ja. Did you have to do this?”
He spread his energy as he walked. It soon became Hardened Qi, enveloping the three of them.
Qi Curtain!
It was one of the Qi arts utilized to prevent others from hearing a conversation. However, it was a supreme martial art that one wouldn’t even dare to use unless they were at least a Transcendent Master.
“I do not know what you are talking about?”
“I am asking if you are doing this to join hands with the Hwaju Medical Pavilion and attack the White Qilin Medical Pavilion. And at the headquarters of this Martial Righteous Alliance, no less!”
It was anger incarnate.
It seemed Martial Righteous Alliance Leader Ak Jin had arrived already fully aware of the situation.
He’s ramming straight into it…
Jin Cheon-hee hadn’t openly poked at their inner thoughts, but Ak Jin was tearing them open. Was that the power of the Martial Righteous Alliance Leader’s experience?
“Alliance Leader. Suddenly oppressing this Taoist and saying incomprehensible things… aren’t you ignoring our sect too much?”
Jin Seong-ja spoke slyly on purpose.
Ak Jin glared at Jin Seong-ja with murderous eyes.
“Jin Seong-ja. You have crossed the limit of my patience and caused trouble. You will pay the price for this.”
“Heh heh heh. Alliance Leader, you have aged too. Has work in this Gangho ever proceeded by words alone?”
“It has. So I am telling you. This is not a warning.”
Ak Jin took one more step, pressing close to Jin Seong-ja.
“It is a notification. Did you think I wouldn’t know the evil deeds of you and the Kongtong Sect?”
“Alliance Leader. Shouldn’t you take care of the Ak Clan properly? Your son made a complete mess.”
“You bastard…”
The two emitted killing intent. However, thanks to the Qi Curtain, no one except Jin Cheon-hee could hear their exchange.
So, Jin Cheon-hee stepped in.
“Now, now. You two, don’t get so heated.”
The gazes of the two peerless masters turned to Jin Cheon-hee.
Jin Cheon-hee lowered his eyelashes and smiled elegantly.
“Anyway, the old Taoist will retire from the Gangho as of today to watch his disciples’ cute antics. So is there a need for the two of you to act like this?”
The expressions of the two went blank for a moment.
And soon, Ak Jin burst into laughter.
“Bwahahahaha!”
The Qi Curtain dissipated, and Ak Jin stepped back a few paces.
In contrast, Jin Seong-ja’s face twisted like a vicious demon.
“You… wretched bastard… A mouth meant for speaking… dares to speak recklessly—!”
Snap!
Ak Jin’s laughter cut off.
“I, Martial Righteous Alliance Leader Ak Jin, hereby notarize the duel between Taoist Jin Seong-ja of the Kongtong Sect and Young Pavilion Master Jin Cheon-hee of the White Qilin Medical Pavilion right here! Both martial artists shall engage in the duel fair and square without cowardice!”
With that, he moved away.
Finally, Jin Seong-ja drew his sword and took a starting stance.
“Jin Seong-ja of the Kongtong Sect. Martial art: Demon Subduing Sword Art.”
Calming his boiling rage, he returned to his composed facade. Indeed, he was an old monster of the Gangho; he wasn’t easily provoked by this much.
Matching him, Jin Cheon-hee also drew his sword and assumed the stance of his starting form.
“Jin Cheon-hee of the White Qilin Medical Pavilion. Martial art: Supreme Unity Immortal Severing Sword.”
Spirit spread out.
Duel start!