Today’s humiliation
The carriage that Gonghae was riding in was blocked by the subordinates of the Black Cat Gang.
Amidst the chaos, where people were trying to calm the startled horses and others were shouting, a man disguised as a coachman was slapping the cheek of my subordinate.
My anger did not stem from my subordinate being slapped.
After all, the coachman was originally from the Hao Sect.
Thus, in my eyes, it was not the subordinate of the Black Cat Gang being hit, but an ordinary coachman receiving a slap.
Without slowing my speed, I soared into the air.
The flying kick is a technique that even a child of seven or eight can perform, and it can be easily executed by someone up to eighty years old.
It is no wonder that it is called the signature martial art of foolish boys.
Naturally, I, who am the representative of foolish men, could also execute a flying kick.
First, while in mid-air, I extended my right leg straight out.
My left leg was slightly bent, like a weight to maintain balance.
My right arm was stretched out parallel to my right leg.
My left fist was slightly clenched, drawn back like a bowstring, ready for a counterattack.
With this stance, it was a perfect flying kick that even the instructors of the Martial Alliance would have no criticism of.
With a thud, the man who had been slapping the coachman was sent flying far away, instantly drawing everyone’s attention to me.
Gonghae was wearing a mask, so I could not see his expression, but he was looking at me nonetheless.
“What is that smelly servant doing here?”
“A smelly servant, indeed… That is true. However, I cannot tolerate being mocked for smelling even after I’ve washed up,” Gonghae retorted.
“What nonsense is that? Do you think I would just let it slide that you are the servant of a criminal?” At that moment, the man who had been sent flying by the unpowered kick approached.
“Master, I will handle this.” I crossed my arms and moved at an incredible speed, delivering a side kick to the approaching swordsman.
The swordsman barely managed to draw his sword halfway before being hit by the side kick and sent rolling on the ground.
This time, he seemed to have fainted, lying quietly on the ground.
I had not infused my internal energy into the flying kick, but I had infused it into the side kick.
That was the difference.
If he could not grasp the situation even after being spared, I would have no choice but to hit him for real.
Gonghae scratched his cheek, which had been exposed outside the mask for a moment.
He seemed to be contemplating something after discerning my skills.
“I suppose I need to question you about your actions against my brother.”
Then Gonghae sensed the strange atmosphere and carefully observed the faces and demeanor of the surrounding coachmen before speaking.
“You all did this on purpose, didn’t you? You must know that I am a disciple of the Great Master and also affiliated with the Gold Mountain Merchant Group. If you are indeed the subordinates of my brother, the entire Black Cat Gang will have to bear the wrath of my master. If you did this for money, our group will find out. Since I have an appointment today, consider yourselves fortunate to retreat at this point.”
Gonghae pointed a finger at me. “And you, you don’t seem like a servant. It wouldn’t be difficult to uncover your identity if you spend money.”
Gonghae viewed me as an infiltrator from outside the Black Cat Gang.
If he was smart, he would be considering various variables.
I approached Gonghae and nodded my head.
“Whether you find out or not.”
“Don’t come any closer. You smell.”
I stepped right up to Gonghae and said, “I told you I washed up, yet you’re still mocking me. Don’t let him escape; surround him widely.”
My subordinates stepped back and took positions at every path.
Meanwhile, Gonghae and I engaged in a battle of glances.
If Gonghae’s martial power fluctuated between seven and eight, it meant he was at least in the middle tier among the Twelve Divine Guardians.
Gonghae looked at me and quickly extended his left hand.
I immediately extended my right hand in response.
With a crack, we began to compete in strength.
Both of us simultaneously unleashed our internal energy, pouring out our qi.
In an instant, the flared edges of Gonghae’s clothing puffed up as if filled with wind.
The reason Gonghae turned this fight into a contest of strength was that he was the son of a wealthy merchant.
This meant that, being from a rich family, he had more confidence in a battle of internal energy rather than a chaotic fight.
Of course, it was a poor choice since he did not know my true identity.
The problem was that neither Gonghae nor I had anticipated what would happen next… the absorption phenomenon of the Heavenly Jade occurred.
Was it because our palms, the center of our hands, perfectly aligned? In an instant, Gonghae’s internal energy was being sucked into my palm.
Startled, Gonghae swung his left hand, and I had no choice but to counter with my right hand.
Crack! The speed at which the internal energy was being absorbed increased.
The ground beneath our feet sank due to the shockwave.
With two powerful forces colliding and intertwining, Gonghae, stunned by the absorption process, had no choice but to exert all his strength.
His entire body trembled, and with a loud crack, the golden pig mask shattered.
Only then could I see Gonghae’s expression.
His face, which had never known hardship, was drenched in sweat as if it were raining.
He barely managed to open his mouth. “Let… go!”
At that moment, I realized the selfish nature of the Heavenly Jade.
It was mercilessly sucking away the opponent’s internal energy.
However, if I recklessly stopped this, I could be injured by the incoming force of Gonghae’s energy.
Thus, I had to stay alert.
If I didn’t appropriately cut this off at some moment, Gonghae would lose his life.
It wouldn’t be a serious matter if he died while I was dealing with the Twelve Divine Guardians.
However, I did not want this fellow’s spirit or soul to cling to the Heavenly Jade.
If that happened, I would be no different from the leader of the Demon Sect.
I wanted to survive in my own way, not become a monster like the sect leader.
Fortunately, when Gonghae’s internal energy had been absorbed to a certain extent by the Heavenly Jade, the force of his energy significantly weakened.
Without much trouble, I cut off the absorption phenomenon of the Heavenly Jade.
As a result, Gonghae, who had been staggering, fell on his backside.
Thud… I scratched the back of my head for a moment. ‘I came to rob money and ended up stealing internal energy instead.’
Gonghae looked at me with a face that seemed to have lost everything. “What on earth did you do?”
Would he even realize that I spared his life? Is there anyone else in this world like me, a chivalrous man? I said to Gonghae, “You attacked first. I merely defended myself. If my martial arts were not so strange, you would have died right here. You know better than anyone that I deliberately stopped the contest of strength. Should I absorb the remaining internal energy as well?”
I squatted down and locked eyes with him.
Gonghae looked at me with a dazed expression. “…”
I commanded my subordinates. “Check inside the carriage. Since we’ve stolen it, we should take everything.”
Gonghae said, “Stop. There are items meant for the Baekyu Guardian as well. Can you handle it?”
“For the Baekyu Guardian?” Was Gonghae threatening me, or was it a slip of the tongue? I replied while listening to my subordinates’ reports. “Bring that small box here.”
A subordinate rushed over holding a small box and opened it without being told.
Inside were four roots of the hundred-year-old white flame grass, the same ones I had consumed.
I exclaimed in surprise, “You’re making business unpleasant. Three roots for the Black Cat, and secretly four for Baekyu. You’re planning to completely ruin the Black Cat by gambling on martial arts, aren’t you?”
Gonghae smirked and replied, “Do you have proof?”
I slapped Gonghae’s cheek and said, “None, you bastard. What do you all think?”
At my question, my subordinates replied, “Isn’t it match-fixing? Instead of determining the rankings through martial arts, there was a middleman playing tricks. No matter how black-hearted they are, this is an extremely vile act.”
One of my subordinates hit the nail on the head.
I glared at Gonghae and said, “I was just trying to rob some money. If this continues, both the Black Cat Lord and the Great Master will be angry. The Gold Mountain Merchant Group will be in chaos. If the Black Cat Lord finds out about this, he will mobilize all his subordinates to attack Gold Mountain, and the Great Master will not just sit idly by. Why is that?”
A clever subordinate replied, “If we give half of the Gold Mountain Merchant Group’s wealth, wouldn’t they stay quiet?”
Gonghae was more afraid of the damage to his home, the Gold Mountain Merchant Group, than today’s humiliation.
His face had turned pale.
It seemed Gonghae did not know how to threaten, so I personally demonstrated.
“Should I report to the Black Cat Gang? Or should I report to the Great Master? You choose. I think both options are not bad. What do you all think?”
My subordinates chimed in from all around. “We like it too.” “Sounds good.” “What if we inform both?”
I shook my head. “Then it wouldn’t be fun. We’re trying to have some fun here, and that would ruin it. Gonghae, it’s time for you to choose. Which will it be?”
I pretended to beat a small drum with my hands and said, “Dugudugudugu, hurry up and choose.”
Gonghae, with a troubled expression, continued, “If you had a grudge against me, you would have killed me by now. In the end, this humiliation is not about revenge but about our family’s wealth. Let’s not do that; let’s be honest about what we want. If you don’t inform the master, I will bring you enough money.”
Before I could respond, a subdued voice came from the other side of the path. “Brother, I’m here.”
The gazes of the men shifted in unison.
Hongshin walked over, looking exhausted, holding someone’s mask in his hand.
Hongshin did not seem unscathed either; blood had stained parts of his arms and clothing.
Gonghae looked at Hongshin with a surprised expression. “Why are you here?”
Hongshin replied, looking at Gonghae, “Did you get caught too?”
Hongshin handed me the blood-stained green dog mask. “The ambush failed, but I managed to sort out the rankings properly. He went to the heavens. Could you give me a break for the sake of this poor junior sister? Sometimes, I urgently need to use the restroom, and I can’t fight properly. Please show some mercy. I keep having….”
I stood up and replied, “Hong sister, you’ve worked hard. We must keep our promise.”
Gonghae looked at me again and asked, “Who on earth are you?”
Feigning an unpleasant expression, Hongshin, who had dark circles under his eyes from the restroom issue, slapped Gonghae’s cheek. “What kind of speech is that to my brother?”
I looked at Hongshin and nodded. “Well done, sister.”
“Thank you.”
I glanced around and organized the situation. “Alright. Load the box back onto Gonghae’s carriage. The rest, tidy up and head inside. Take the one over there who fainted and release him later. I have a place to go with Hong sister and Gonghae, so let’s part ways here.”
I kicked Gonghae’s backside lightly and said, “Call your coachmen. The three of us have a place to go.”
When Gonghae was about to say something again, I looked at Hongshin.
Hongshin silently raised his hand. “Golden pig, do not question my brother’s words.”
Even though Gonghae stood up without saying a word, he was slapped again by Hongshin.
Slap!
I looked back and forth between Gonghae and Hongshin.
Was Gonghae originally unable to move against Hongshin, or was he holding back because he had lost his internal energy? In any case, Hongshin was venting what he had suffered onto Gonghae.
I spoke in a gentle voice to mediate the two childish individuals. “Brothers shouldn’t fight so often.”
Gonghae looked at me with his hand on his cheek, while Hongshin slightly bowed his head. “I will be careful.”
The three of us boarded the carriage, with Hongshin and Gonghae sitting side by side, and I sat opposite them.
The coachman asked, “Where shall I take you?”
I replied in a serious tone, “Hong sister has been cut by a sword, and Gong disciple has internal injuries. Naturally, we need to go to a physician.”
“Which physician should we go to?”
“There must be a physician that your master frequently calls upon.”
“Oh, I will take you there.”
I extended my hand to Hongshin, who placed the green dog mask in my palm.
Had Hongshin reached a level where he could understand my intentions just by looking into my eyes? It was as if we were in perfect sync.
As I deliberately put the green dog mask on my face slowly… Hongshin also slowly took a stance and said, “I greet you, Brother Green.”
Gonghae’s eyes, watching us, trembled violently. “…!”
Hongshin, in a stance, frowned and glared at Gonghae.
Anticipating another slap, Gonghae squirmed awkwardly and then took a stance toward me. “I greet you, Brother Green.”
I replied with a cold expression and an imposing tone, “Rest.”
“Yes.”
“…Yes.”