Chapter 216 |
Professor Jin drew his Ice Clarity Sword instead of using the Flicking Heaven-Penetrating Finger, having lost his mind.
Against someone who had reached the Sword Thread realm, pellet techniques alone wouldn’t be enough.
At the Transcendent Realm level, masters could sense and dodge qi bullets, and if he increased their power, he might end up losing here and having to treat gunshot wounds in the ER.
No good. Gunshot wounds are tough!
Though he had gained plenty of experience treating gunshot wounds through field work, sword wounds were easier to handle.
Korean ERs mostly dealt with stab wounds.
Violence cases or robbery cases. Plus, gang fights often brought people to the ER.
Even gangsters had to go to the ER when stabbed – it couldn’t be helped.
Sometimes rival gang members would end up in the same ER, and he remembered how awkward the atmosphere would get.
Rather, there were times when they would bow 90 degrees in suits and try to slip him money to take good care of their boss, and Jin Cheonhee had sweated trying to return the money.
If there must be wounds, sword wounds are better.
He’d rather avoid treating gunshot wounds that he himself had caused… While having such fatalistic crazy thoughts, he analyzed his opponent.
Is Cheon Yi-mun ‘s sword a soft sword?
Kaang!
As soon as their swords met, he felt the principle of “softness overcomes hardness.”
“Oh, quite a remarkable level.”
Unlike Cheon Yi-mun ‘s admiration, Jin Cheonhee was thinking something else.
With swords too… if I cut wrong, I might have to stitch them up myself!
Desire for victory? Fear of defeat?
For martial artists, it ends with victory or defeat, but for Jin Cheonhee, that’s where it begins.
Let’s avoid fractures… if the sword path goes wrong and takes off an arm, I’ll have to do microsurgery!
Meanwhile, Cheon Yi-mun got goosebumps from Jin Cheonhee’s expression.
Can a human make such an expression? Like… a zen master’s eyes indifferent to victory or defeat! Yet his movements are like those of an evil spirit. Besides my master, this is the first time I’ve seen someone like this.
In deep misunderstanding, Cheon Yi-mun launched his second attack.
Surprisingly, his straight sword infused with sword thread descended from above following the principles of the soft sword.
They say you see as much as you know.
Jin Cheonhee realized that if he blocked this sword, his stance would be disrupted and leave him exposed to the next attack, and conversely, if he deflected it sideways, the principles of the soft sword would bring an immediate counterattack.
Attack and defense as one. Indeed divine technique and profound learning.
He was curious about the name of this sword technique.
Feeling considerable martial learning, he twisted his sword with reverence.
Taiji Wisdom Sword.
Meeting soft sword with soft sword.
The “softness overcomes hardness” of the Plum Blossom Grafting forms the taichi symbol while twisting the straight sword.
“!”
Strangely, there was no sound of swords clashing, and Jin Cheonhee’s form seemed to scatter and disappear.
Taichi and Five Elements. With Heavenly Energy Mystifying Stride added to determine position, Jin Cheonhee’s form was like dandelion seeds scattering in the wind.
When the strike he was sure would land didn’t, Cheon Yi-mun immediately launched his next move.
Azure Arrow Sword Technique.
Wind Flower Sword Form–!
Cheon Yi-mun ‘s sword scattered into dozens. Each carrying sword thread, they whirled around like a sword curtain.
It was an amazing sword strike that could turn someone within range into minced meat.
Kwagwagwang!
But something was strange. Between the continuing sword thread and sword strikes, he noticed faint killing intent flying through.
And by the time he noticed…
Kaang!
After the metal pellet tore through the blade.
The real attack was the metal pellet!
He realized the qi bullet had actually been reduced in power.
Simultaneously, Jin Cheonhee appeared directly in his vision.
I should have attacked as a point, not a line.
As Cheon Yi-mun regretted this, Jin Cheonhee smiled slightly.
If you don’t know where your opponent is, you shouldn’t have used your next move.
The split second to recover from an attack is as precious as gold.
The brilliant move of scattering sword thread around after losing sight was good, but if someone could read even that move, vulnerabilities would be exposed like this.
Jin Cheonhee’s sword flew in. And as they clashed, he turned the blade sideways.
Wudang Ten-Segment Golden Palm!
Paaaak!
His skull rang.
Though he hastily defended with internal energy, he couldn’t prevent losing consciousness as his brain was rattled.
His knees buckled and he fell forward.
The last thing he saw was Jin Cheonhee’s worried face.
“Ah… did I hit too hard? That’s not good.”
Crazy.
Curses welled up but couldn’t escape his throat. He probably didn’t have the strength for even that.
In the moment before losing consciousness.
He felt Jin Cheonhee grab his wrist to check his pulse with diagnostic qi.
“Ah, thank goodness. Still, being a Transcendent Realm master, you defended right before impact. Oh my, well done! Good work. Rest well and let’s meet healthy next year.”
“……”
Thus Cheon Yi-mun lost consciousness feeling some inexplicable bizarreness.
After finishing that, looking back, he saw Hu Yun had won the fight between the lower-skilled practitioners. However, as soon as Hu Yun’s eyes met Jin Cheonhee’s, she gave a bitter smile and cupped her hands.
“I surrender.”
Woaaaaaaah!
Though the method was somewhat… strange.
Overwhelming martial power!
The audience began to cheer enthusiastically.
“See! Little White Dragon is the strongest!”
“Ah, I should have bet on Little White Dragon!”
“He’s handsome! Little White Dragon!”
“So cool!”
Feeling the passionate cheers that could deafen one’s ears with his whole body, Jin Cheonhee thought.
Ah, so this is why martial artists stake their lives on the Dragon Phoenix Gathering.
A sensation like being on drugs.
Everyone looking at him, admiring him, all getting excited about his nameless reputation – it was dizzying.
Hehehe…!
He was happy. Purely. Foolishly.
Professor Jin discovered a new side of himself.
Ah… so this is it. Yes, this is what it was.
Sometimes in martial arts novels, he’d see protagonists monologuing “Huff, what use is something like this Dragon Phoenix Gathering… what good is appearing strong? There’s always someone stronger beyond the heavens…!”
However, Professor Jin felt none of that emptiness or ennui… not even 1%.
Being called handsome feels good.
The modern person enjoyed the shower of praise.
Still, having some dignity, he couldn’t show off, so he responded with gentle eye-smiles and cupped hands.
“Thank you.”
Waaaaaah!!
Had there ever been a martial artist who greeted like this after finishing?
Come to think of it, it made sense there hadn’t been. What kind of crazy person would do fan service after a martial arts match?
Jin Cheonhee waved his arms widely and cheerfully went down.
The audience began chanting Little White Dragon.
“Brother, your portraits will sell well. They’re already selling well…”
“You sell those things too?”
Sama Hyeon answered.
“If it makes money, gotta sell it~ It’s not like they wear out. I’ll give you a cut too.”
In this world without portrait rights, offering to give a cut meant essentially offering to do business together.
Feeling the madness of capitalism, Jin Cheonhee nodded.
“Donate it to the White Dragon’s Foundation.”
“Sure. That’ll help me pay less taxes too~”
Looking to the side, Yeo Ha-ryoon was still breathing fire from his eyes.
“Brother. I’m glad you’re safe.”
It wasn’t good that the two hadn’t fought… no.
From the atmosphere, Yeo Ha-ryoon seemed to have internally counted “one,” or maybe “two” because Sama Hyeon had irritated him.
What should I do… with these guys…?
***
In a high pavilion overlooking the arena. A high place.
Though quite distant, it was the perfect spot for martial arts masters to observe matches – here, the Alliance Leader, Zhuge Rin, and Commander-in-Chief Dokgo Seon were watching this match together.
“Hahaha, I worry because Hee is so kind. Seeing him try to end it without injuries against a Transcendent Realm master using sword thread makes me more concerned.”
The person saying he was worried was laughing.
The Alliance Leader looked at Zhuge Rin with a bitter expression.
Divine Doctor White Dragon… your doting has gotten even worse. Was everything until now just a taste?
The memory of a crazed Zhuge Rin bearing the karma of bloodshed and butchering people was still vivid, and yet.
Someone who never smiled except for faint business smiles given reluctantly.
How could he now be so full of life, even waving his fan happily, immersed in joy?
I’ve seen him change expressions whenever talking about his disciple before, but watching like this is just…
For now, he had to humor him here.
His instinct as Alliance Leader was telling him this.
Zhuge Rin was serious.
“I’d heard of Little White Dragon’s reputation, but I didn’t know it was to this extent. Indeed, it must be thanks to having an excellent master.”
“Huu, not at all. I only helped a tiny bit. I always worry because he only tries to grow by himself. They say disciples should be raised like weeds, but I still can’t help worrying… Even treating my body was something he did on his own…”
Zhuge Rin was immediately tossing any praise directed at himself to his disciple.
Well, he was always indifferent to flattery directed at himself.
Divine Doctor White Dragon.
Rising to the position of Divine Doctor, he had heard countless flatteries.
After all, it was human nature to want to be on good terms with Divine Doctor White Dragon when one’s son, daughter, wife, or husband could fall ill at any time!
Yet Divine Doctor White Dragon had always remained indifferent to such praises.
It made sense. Because he knew why they were flattering him.
As a survivor of the Zhuge Clan, he must have felt this deeply.
But praising his disciple was different.
Had some dormant doting blood started boiling now?
When this madman subtly pressured others to praise his disciple more, it somehow felt like one wasn’t even human but rather a puppet made just to give praise.
The Alliance Leader quickly looked at Commander Dokgo Seon. Dokgo Seon felt the Alliance Leader’s gaze and nodded.
I understand, Alliance Leader!
Dokgo Seon spoke with all his heart:
“What an outstanding disciple! I’m amazed. Where did such a talented successor come from…”
“Hohoho, he’s always making me worry.”
Again he put on airs, pretending to really worry while pretending not to praise.
Can a person… can a person change this much…