As soon as I heard the Qi person’s question, my mind went blank in shock and a million thoughts flooded in. Should I just say I found a Secret Manual? Or should I pretend to be a disciple of the Sect?
If this Qi person doesn’t help us, we’re as good as dead.
How on earth can I capture this Qi person?
While I was lost in these thoughts, Jeong Cheol made a bold attempt to greet the elder.
“…Greetings, Senior. I am Jeong Cheol of the Nangya Sword.”
“Hmm. I discarded the name I used in the Martial World a long time ago, so there’s no need for a self-introduction.”
“Understood. Elder.”
Jeong Cheol got straight to the point and made a request to the Qi person.
“Elder, the one behind you is a dire opponent who has cast all sorts of schemes against the Sect I lead. They allied with the forces of the West for their own purposes and infiltrated the Sect under false pretenses to cause unrest, even breaking the taboo of non-interference to achieve their immoral goals. Please allow me to end this.”
Wow, what a cowardly move—hitting them with the truth. After Jeong Cheol’s words, the Qi person turned around and looked down at me. I couldn’t read their expression under the Shadow Rock, so I swallowed nervously.
I chose to remain silent for now. I had no idea what kind of personality this Qi person had, and arguing against Jeong Cheol’s claims might lead to unpredictable outcomes.
Even if something unfavorable to me came up, considering that we were just trying to kill each other moments ago, it was hardly serious gossip.
I could only anxiously watch for the Qi person’s reaction.
“It’s a matter that doesn’t concern me, as I’ve left the Martial World.”
They glanced at me, so it seemed like they were willing to hear more of Jeong Cheol’s story after all, as the Qi person unexpectedly sided with me.
“…Elder, if you were once part of the Martial World, you understand well what it means to involve oneself in someone else’s grievances, don’t you?”
“Someone… someone else? If not someone else, then who?”
“…What do you mean?”
“I am that child’s Master. Therefore, to say I intervened in someone else’s matter is somewhat of a stretch.”
Jeong Cheol’s expression grimaced, and my head started to spin. The Master of the Merciless Sword Sect? If there’s a Master, then why bury a Secret Manual and their weapons on top of a mountain?
“If my discerning eyes and ears are not mistaken, this person and the Elder are meeting for the first time, so how can you say Master?”
“Ha, whether it’s the first or second meeting, this child has learned the martial arts principles of the Sect and has displayed its footwork. Surely, they must be a disciple of my disciple; what else could they be called?”
Jeong Cheol gnawed on his lips. No matter how much he protested, he must have realized that the Qi person had already made up their mind.
Wow, I survived.
I had no idea how things would unfold from here, but for now, I was just grateful to have escaped Jeong Cheol’s clutches.
“Elder, in the organization I represent, there are three Experts from Hyeong-gyeong affiliated. While I wish to respect your past actions, this grievance is one I cannot overlook as the leader of my group.”
“Ha, is that so? I did indeed act rashly.”
My heart dropped.
Did the Qi person’s attitude change upon hearing that three Hyeong-gyeong Experts would be opposing them?
“Indeed, it was a situation where victory or defeat was determined, so you might feel a bit wronged. Show me your skill then.”
At the Qi person’s gesture, a boulder the size of a human head floated up. It seemed to have originated from the wreckage of the ground where a fierce battle had taken place.
Everyone present, including Jeong Cheol’s team, gasped at the sight of this incredible feat.
“Huh…”
“Whoa!”
The boulder was over ten paces away, and if an energy attack was unleashed using the current level of prowess, there was no doubt it would exhibit a speed beyond what the eyes could follow.
This was a demonstration confirming that the Qi person’s mastery over the flow of power was on another level.
“Is this all you’re surprised about, just bringing in a target?”
Jeong Cheol, myself, and everyone else watched the Qi person with wide eyes.
The Qi person grinned and clasped their hands behind their back.
Crack!
Suddenly, lightning erupted just in front of the Qi person’s face.
Crack! Crackle!
In an instant, a form of fierce energy materialized in a straight line. I couldn’t help but drop my jaw at the sight.
Gang-hwan!
The power radiating outward, engaging the essence and concentrating to create this fierce energy is known as Gang-hwan. But why is it referred to as a ‘ring’ when formed in the air?
Unlike ordinary fierce energy that must conform to the shape of a weapon or body, fierce energy created in the air should have no shape restrictions.
The answer was simple.
Even an Expert who has reached Hyeong-gyeong would find it a considerable strain to manifest fierce energy in the air if it wasn’t in the most optimized ring form.
Yet, this Elder did it while floating a boulder the size of a human head!
Boom!
With a deafening clap of thunder, the lightning-shaped fierce energy shot forward and obliterated the boulder into dust.
Amid the swirling stone dust, I caught sight of Jeong Cheol’s trembling gaze.
Even I, an ally, was left awestruck by this scene. What thoughts must have been running through Jeong Cheol’s mind, facing this spectacle?
By no means was I joking; if I were in Jeong Cheol’s shoes, I would have knelt the moment I witnessed this.
“Did you enjoy the show?”
“….Junior. I’ve been enlightened.”
“Then that’s a relief.”
At the Qi person’s gesture, I heard the sound of stones shifting near the entrance. It seemed to be the sound of a door opening.
Did they just open the door using air manipulation? Even upon a second look, it was an astonishing technique.
Jeong Cheol looked at me with a grim expression, but upon seeing the Qi person next to me, he sighed heavily.
“Destiny has delivered you here… looks like you had good fortune, Ho Cheon-an.”
Having said that, Jeong Cheol vanished. He probably wouldn’t let it end like this and would respond in some way.
But for now, I was alive.
I heard the stone door closing again after Jeong Cheol disappeared. It probably wasn’t his doing; the Qi person must have closed it.
The Qi person turned to me with their arms crossed behind their back.
“Well then, we have a lot to discuss, but there are many injured, so let’s treat them first.”
“….Yes. I appreciate it. And thank you, Elder.”
* *
Who on earth is this Qi person?
The injuries of my group were serious. The most lightly wounded was Tang So-yeol, who had lost consciousness. Everyone had internal injuries from Hwa-gyeong’s experts’ attacks.
However, with just one application of Qi healing from the Qi person, the faces of my group, which had previously looked pale, immediately regained color.
The way the Qi person treated everyone’s internal injuries as if they were all from their Sect suggested that their medical skills were extraordinary.
Beyond treating internal injuries, some unpleasant-smelling ointment was slathered over my legs. My legs prickled as if bitten by ants, but after experiencing the miraculous Qi healing, I held back any complaints.
“Tut, with legs used so roughly, it seems you’ll have trouble moving for a while.”
Once the healing session concluded, the atmosphere finally became conducive for conversation.
“Thank you, Elder.”
“Thanks to you, I saved my own life.”
“Hahaha, there’s no need for such gratitude.”
Though the elder’s face was completely hidden, aside from their white beard, it was clear they were pleased with the group’s gratitude.
“Well then, it’s now your turn to tell me how you came to learn the Enlightened Cloud Thunder Technique.”
I contemplated for a moment before deciding to speak honestly. Upon mentioning finding the Secret Manual and the True Rock Sword beneath the rock on the mountain, the Qi person stroked their beard.
“Is that so… Then, you were the ones who set up that strange Array Formation, weren’t you?”
“How did you know?”
“Hmm. I had suspicions before you said you weren’t suspicious people since you all performed suspicious actions. All of a sudden, a house appears inside a cave, and there’s an unusual altar channeling the Array formation… I had already surveyed the area beforehand.”
So, you were hiding from our gaze.
Although it was perplexing, at least I understood the nature of the Array formation now.
“It was indeed difficult to grasp the Array, but at least I understood its essence. That I was called upon.”
I gulped nervously.
What is the limit of this Qi person’s talents? Not only with most improbably high-level martial arts and Qi-based medicine but also possessing extensive knowledge about while veiling themselves from us? If this person was a Hyeong-gyeong expert, it would make sense. But considering they didn’t even leave a trace in this cramped space, they must possess some stealth techniques as well…
“You understand you owe me a debt, right?”
The Qi person pointedly mentioned the debt, causing tension to rise among my group. Indeed, there are no kind gestures without a reason. Whatever this Qi person wanted, I had to concede, so I nodded.
It wouldn’t matter to break the altar or entrance to gain leverage against the Qi person, considering they could wipe us all out in that brief moment when the Array was disrupted.
“Honestly, seeing you made me quite uncomfortable.”
“…Yes?”
“I was annoyed.”
“…Excuse me?? I’m sorry.”
“Do you know what you’re apologizing for! You brat!”
Crack!
A star burst in front of my eyes.
The pain felt like my forehead was splitting!
“Ughhh!”
A moan escaped involuntarily, and tears welled up as my body twisted at the sharp pain that came with that slap.
“Oh, look at you, crying just because you got a slap on the forehead, are you?”
“N-No, I’m not.”
I couldn’t see the Qi person’s face, but I felt they had an unsatisfied expression.
“The Enlightened Cloud Thunder Technique isn’t something to be used that way! You’re just weak! So what if your level’s high? Even a scarecrow is more solid than you!”
Honestly, I had nothing to say.
As my level rose, I really only learned a minimal amount of martial arts while focusing on raising my level, so my foundation was basically nonexistent. I had bragged about maintaining above-average combat power with minimal effort, but to a true expert, I must look utterly ridiculous.
“With only your sturdy build, when you unleashed that thunderous sound from within, I nearly fainted from your ignorance!”
After that, I received a thorough scolding from the Qi person. Why was my foundation so pathetic? Where did I throw away my sword technique? Why was I trailing after so many women? Why did I wear such thief-like clothing, and so on…
“No matter how it wasn’t the place I used to dwell, I cannot bear to see the heir of the Enlightened Cloud Thunder Technique getting hit!”
“…Does that mean…?”
“I will make sure you absolutely cannot leave this place until I say so!”
Well.
It couldn’t be a coincidence that I would be able to learn from this Qi person, deemed as a good fortune by any standards, but… I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease about the Sect’s movements. Why bury the sword and Secret Manual in the mountain with a perfectly fine Master around? And why were these hidden secrets kept from the Master?
Nodding carelessly stirred up a sense of dread that I could perhaps be bound for life.
“Um, Elder, but…”
Whack!
An intense pain shot through my forehead.
It really hurt!
If my legs had been fine, I would have been rolling on the ground like a madman to express my agony.
“You little brat, don’t you appreciate this favor? I saved you from the river of three deaths, did I not? Did I ever say I would eat you? I just wanted to make you stronger!”
As I cradled my forehead, I noticed the Qi person’s hand was ready to slap again.
“Answer?”
“Yes! I’ll do my best! I really want to!”
Somehow, I suddenly became the pupil of this unnamed Qi person.
