Chapter 162
“Wait… Did he just seal my Qi?! “
After that, I brought Dongbang Mu-gyeol to Jinrang Valley. He looked clueless when I first took him, trapped in a wooden armor. But when I suddenly hit his pressure point, his face screamed surprise.
“No…!!”
He tried to unleash his internal power suddenly, but I was way faster. I swiftly employed the secret technique of Hua’s 108 Needles, sealing his 16 points of Qi again and again. Eventually, Dongbang Mu-gyeol stumbled and sat down helplessly while I stood over him with a cold stare.
“With your level of internal power, you can’t fight against my extreme skill. You knew it all along, which is why you were so relaxed until now, but that ends here. With the vision technique of Hua’s 108 Needles, I’ve infused my Qi into you, so there’s no escape.”
“Ugh, what a joke…”
Dongbang Mu-gyeol tried again to muster his energy, but his face looked as if he was dragging a heavy weight. No matter how hard he attempted to rise, his internal power was all scattered and wouldn’t come together. I chuckled, saying, “Give up. Jinrang Valley is a place with fresh air and clear water. Just relax here.”
“You…!! What the hell are you doing? Give me back my Qi!”
“You’re not really getting it, are you?”
Swish! My Tiger Fist landed right over his forehead. Feeling the threat, Dongbang Mu-gyeol stopped struggling and sealed his lips. Even though it was just a basic stance of Tiger Fist, he realized it had the potential to smash his head like a ripe melon. I slowly released the pose and said, “Lee Kwang wants you locked in the torture chamber to squeeze out every bit of information for a long time. But that felt too inhumane, so we’ve settled on just sealing your Qi and keeping you here instead. Say thanks to the Leader of the Bancheon Alliance.”
“You… uncouth bastards. What have I done wrong to deserve this?”
“Don’t worry. I’m not planning to keep you here for a millennium. When the time is right, I’ll let you out.”
“Ugh… you scoundrel…”
Dongbang Mu-gyeol wheezed, but with no Qi, he had no choice but to stay in Jinrang Valley. Moving forward, he would be using his medical skills for Jinrang Valley.
‘Maybe I went too far?’
From his perspective, it must have felt like one-sided suffering. I felt a twinge of guilt but thought that when the Thunder God Lineage makes its move, I’d be willing to release him then. After putting Dongbang Mu-gyeol in the residence, I went to Mangnyang.
“Did everything go well?”
“Lee Kwang agreed too.”
“I see.”
Mangnyang said, looking satisfied. “Well then, are you ready to go as the messenger to the White Lotus Sect?”
“Of course.”
After discussions among Mangnyang, Lee Kwang, and the experts of the Thunder God Lineage, we concluded that it was time for a negotiation regarding the Thunder God Lineage’s faction. When deciding who would be the best messenger, Mangnyang suggested I would fit the role perfectly, and after Lee Kwang reviewed the proposal and agreed, I was sent along with Dongbang Mu-gyeol to Jinrang Valley.
Mangnyang remarked, “As the master of the Golden Lamp, you can extricate yourself anytime, making you the best choice for this. There’s no better selection than you.”
“Hmm, so we’re heading to Gansu Province now?”
I had never been to Gansu Province since I was born. The thought of needing to run around again made me scratch my head, but Mangnyang shook his head.
“No. Going through the main gate of the White Lotus Sect would be madness. Instead, let’s take the back roads and focus on practical benefits.”
“What do you mean?”
“From here, we’ll head to Luoyang.”
Luoyang? I was baffled for a moment, but as I listened to Mangnyang, it made sense.
“There’s a messenger of the White Lotus Sect closest to us, isn’t there?”
Swish! I arrived in Luoyang shortly afterward. I appeared in an empty back alley, and after stepping out onto the main street, I spotted the entrance of the Han Clan. Aware there were other experts lying in wait around the entrance, I approached cautiously.
Finally, the gatekeeper asked me, “Hey kid, who are you?”
I answered as instructed by Mangnyang, “I’ve come as a guest from the most secretive place.”
“Ah…”
The gatekeeper looked surprised and rushed inside. After a moment, he returned and said, “The Young Master is waiting for you, so I’ll guide you to a separate room.”
I followed the gatekeeper into the Han Clan. Although it was a familiar visit, the imposing presence of hidden guests and experts made it hard to walk casually. A wry smile crept onto my face.
‘Could it be that I once swaggered into this den of lions, here to challenge them? I can hardly believe it.’
Arriving at the separate room, I entered to find Han Jin-seong, the Young Master of the Han Clan, waiting. I’d seen him a few times before, but this would likely be our first meeting. As I took a seat across from him, he said, “A precious guest has arrived. How is the Leader of the Bancheon Alliance?”
As expected, it seemed the Bancheon Alliance was receiving help from the Han Clan. Given the nature of the Bancheon Alliance, operating secretly in Luoyang would be tough, yet thanks to the Han Clan, much information could be obtained without exposure. Of course, Mangnyang was paying a small sum to the Han Clan for this service.
It was a symbiotic relationship, but the initiative lay with the Han Clan. I pondered this as I slowly replied to Han Jin-seong, “I’m doing well.”
“What brings you here today?”
The refined and elegant Han Jin-seong was strikingly handsome, perhaps rivaling even Song Ok and Ban An. It was easy to see why he was regarded as one of the most handsome men of Luoyang.
“I’ve come to ask if you could bridge connections for me.”
“What kind of bridge are you talking about…?”
I looked directly at Han Jin-seong and stated firmly, “I have something I want to convey directly to the Leader of the White Lotus Sect. Please be that bridge.”
“……!!”
Han Jin-seong looked briefly shocked, then replied, “I don’t understand what you’re saying. The Leader of the White Lotus Sect is in Gansu Province, so you should go seek him out.”
It seemed as though this was true to Mangnyang’s claim. He knew about the Han Clan being guardians of the White Lotus Sect and part of the Fire Spirit Lineage, but the Han Clan had never revealed this fact nor would they in the future. I quickly glanced around before sending a thought transmission to him.
[This concerns the Thunder God Lineage and the Young Master’s strange illness. It’s no joke, so please respond.]
“……”
Han Jin-seong’s face turned pale for a moment. He seemed to contemplate something before asking, “What is your name?”
“I’m Baek Woong.”
“Baek Woong? Follow me, please.”
He led me to the Han Clan’s courtyard. There, like before, stood a stunning young girl with raven hair, strikingly beautiful like a doll. As she strolled through the deserted garden, she responded coldly when Han Jin-seong arrived.
“Jin-seong, what’s up? Didn’t I tell you to handle that Bancheon Alliance messenger yourself?”
Han Jin-seong’s lips quivered as he sent her a thought transmission. Shortly after, the girl’s eyes sharpened as she stared at me fiercely.
“…Who are you? What exactly does the Leader of the Bancheon Alliance seek from us?”
I recognized that the girl before me was Han Baek-ryeong, one of the three Dharma Guardians of the White Lotus Sect and the head of the Fire Spirit Lineage. She might even surpass Lee Kwang in power and was a legendary master endowed with the divine treasure known as the Heavenly Spirit Pill. Naturally, I would be fortunate to survive a hundred seconds against her in a fight.
Before she could unleash her wrath, I hurriedly said, “I am Baek Woong. As I mentioned, I wish to discuss matters regarding the Thunder God Lineage and the Young Master’s strange illness.”
“You bastard… if you’re fooling around, you won’t walk back alive.”
Thud!
In that moment, I sensed the formless Qi emanating from Han Baek-ryeong wrapping around my soul. It felt like a spider silk was binding my whole body, rendering me incapable of movement.
Formless Qi!
This was a unique ability beyond mere killing intent a master exudes, something that can be generated using one’s consciousness. When unleashed as killing intent, it could strike down those with weak mental strength instantly, overpowering them completely. The scariest aspect of formless Qi is that it can’t be resisted by normal willpower, causing one to perish before even using their martial arts.
However, having trained for many years and receiving an explanation about formless Qi from Lee Kwang, I knew how to counter it. I focused my energy on the pressure point at the top of my head, gathering my royal Qi straight and bracing myself to withstand the pressure of her formless Qi.
Bam!
“Oh…?”
As I broke free from the grip of her formless Qi, Han Baek-ryeong’s eyes sparkled with intrigue, and Han Jin-seong looked at me with astonished eyes. Feeling slightly injured, I coughed up a bit of blood and said, “Cough… this isn’t a joke.”
“Hmm.”
Han Baek-ryeong appeared deep in thought. “Are you saying the Leader of the Bancheon Alliance can command a talent like you? Wait… you don’t seem like a Half-Transition Master, but your skills and internal power are impressive for your age. Who is your master?”
A barrage of questions followed, which I realized were mostly rhetorical, yet I still replied, “I am a disciple of Lee Kwang from the Thunder God Lineage and a member of the Bancheon Alliance.”
“Lee Kwang! So that guy managed to raise a disciple like you.”
“Can you please hear me out?”
“……”
After a moment of deliberation, Han Baek-ryeong said, “I’ll let you speak after testing your skills.”
Whoosh!
Simultaneously, a pair of twin swords emerged from thin air and landed in Han Baek-ryeong’s grasp. I swallowed dryly, fully aware that the moment those swords started swinging, devastation would ensue. Especially when her secret technique, “The Night Moon Splendor,” struck, I’d likely just die without even having a chance to defend myself.
“Please, show some restraint.”
“Ha ha, will I really have to go all out against a kid like you? Just try to withstand this.”
With a ringing laugh, Han Baek-ryeong lightly swung one hand, unleashing twelve currents of sword winds that surrounded me. Having never seen such a level of swordsmanship before, I hastily employed the Wheel Technique to escape the encroaching winds and stepped back five paces as a beam of sword energy shot toward me.
Bang!
I managed to block that stealthy strike but the force pushed me back two steps. I collided with a pillar behind me, causing a brief tremor, and I used my internal strength to push against the ground once more.
Swoosh!
Another wave of sword wind surged from her right hand. Initially, I thought this attack would be slow, but upon realizing its lethal firepower—the Sword Flame—I tensed up. Calmly, I utilized the Cave-Collapsing Sword technique from Jang Sam-bong’s insights to deflect Han Baek-ryeong’s thrust and promptly regained my posture.
Having defended against around ten seconds of her furious attacks, Han Baek-ryeong chuckled with delight.
“Ah ha! Impressive! To think you’ve mastered the intricacies of swordsmanship; I never imagined there’d be such talent in this world!”
“I’m lacking. Please, just call off the attack.”
“Alright, you’ve displayed some remarkable skills.”
With a swish, Han Baek-ryeong sheathed her twin swords into the ground. Crossed arms, she spoke, “Now, let’s hear your story. What’s the Thunder God Lineage and the Young Master up to?”
I took a deep breath and relayed, “Master Lee Kwang, the leader of the Thunder God Lineage, has decided to establish a faction. Therefore, I’ve come to deliver this message to the White Lotus Sect through the Han Clan.”
“……”
Han Baek-ryeong fell silent, staring at me in disbelief, then finally asked, “A faction…? Did Lee Kwang truly say that?”
“Yes.”
“Insane. I never would’ve thought I’d end up killing Lee Kwang myself.”
The tone of Han Baek-ryeong’s murmur was devoid of any emotion, sending chills down my spine. It was evident she had allowed the Thunder God Lineage to exist solely out of sentiment until now.
Yet, she was a person who could differentiate between personal feelings and duties. Should an extermination order from the Leader of the White Lotus Sect arise, she would unwaveringly lead the Fire Spirit Lineage to wipe out the Thunder God Lineage.
That couldn’t happen. Looking directly into Han Baek-ryeong’s eyes, I added, “And one more thing.”
“What is it?”
“I hold a clue to the Young Master’s strange illness, so I’d appreciate it if the Thunder God Lineage isn’t interfered with following the establishment of your faction.”
“……!!”
“I want to negotiate.”
Han Baek-ryeong and Han Jin-seong’s expressions morphed oddly.
Han Baek-ryeong glared at me, saying, “I can’t believe that. Where exactly is Lee Kwang? I need to talk to him directly.”
“Why don’t you believe me?”
“You claim to have a clue? What’s the guarantee it’s true? I’ll show you, the White Lotus Sect is not so easily swayed by empty words.”
“Ugh…”
Completely absurd, yet I couldn’t help but feel admiration. Everything was unfolding just as Mangnyang had predicted.
Just as she was about to exert her power to subdue me, I said, “The Thunder God Lineage follows its principles to the end, yet why won’t you give them even one chance?”
This was the ‘word’ Mangnyang had given me. I had no other choice but to stake everything on it.
As expected, Han Baek-ryeong hesitated. She looked at me, a mixture of confusion and displeasure crossing her face as she queried, “What do you mean?”
“It’s as I said. When the Thunder God Lineage was expelled, the Fire Spirit Lineage did nothing. Even when the Thunder God Lineage’s Dharma Guardian was slain.”
“T-That… ”
Han Baek-ryeong looked visibly stunned. My words had directly attacked the guilt she carried regarding the Thunder God Lineage. I held her gaze firmly and continued.
“However, we in the Thunder God Lineage never judged the righteousness of loyalty. We believe that you, Han Baek-ryeong, regard that person as a true friend. Were the Fire Spirit Lineage not perceived as potential allies, I wouldn’t have brought a message to you today.”
“……”
“You may kill me if you wish, but please respond honestly. Are you truly refusing to grant a single opportunity to the Thunder God Lineage?”
Han Baek-ryeong stood, slightly taken aback. Han Jin-seong appeared lost in deep thought. After a considerable pause, Han Baek-ryeong finally replied.
“That’s not the case.”
“So you are allowing a chance?”
“Umm…”
Han Baek-ryeong frowned before saying, “Alright, if that’s the case, I’ll arrange a meeting.”
“Thank you.”
Feeling the matter was settled, I attempted to leave without hesitation. But Han Baek-ryeong called out to me.
“Baek Woong.”
“Yes.”
“You’re truly a remarkable talent. Don’t you ever think of coming under my wing?”
“……”
“I could offer you a position of nobility.”
Discussing a noble title from a mere martial arts clan seemed extravagant, but it really wasn’t. The wealth of the Han Clan was top-tier, making it a cinch to buy any government position, and they could slip a few words with powerful friends to place someone in a high role.
Moreover, high officials would openly show respect to the Han Clan due to their economic dominance. And if the Young Master were to be healed, the martial arts world would fall under the White Lotus Sect. Han Baek-ryeong’s proposal wasn’t just some fanciful talk.
Yet, I chuckled, saying, “I’m content as I am.”
“Is that so…”
I turned my back on the somewhat regretful Han Baek-ryeong and left the Han Clan. Returning to the Bancheon Alliance, I informed Mangnyang of the successful negotiation. Mangnyang beamed with joy, saying, “Well done! That was incredibly tough, but you pulled it off. This will greatly enhance our support from the Han Clan!”
“What do we do next?”
“Naturally, we must negotiate with the leaders of the righteous factions.”
Mangnyang chuckled, passing me the next task casually. “Now go, and let’s take the Wudang Sect on board.”
