Chapter 79. The Evil and Righteous Yang (4)

Upon reaching the entrance of the Wind Cloud Martial Hall, we kicked open the door and entered. The officials and instructors gathered in the training ground, all looking startled as they observed us.

"What's this?"

"That's... Baiyun Escort Agency, right?"

"Why is the escort agency here?"

As we stood there, holding up a large banner and beating drums and gongs, one of the instructors mustered the courage to approach us.

The instructor, with a bandage wrapped around his head, hesitantly asked the foremost person, Jiang Biao, "Excuse me, what brings you to our martial hall...?"

Jiang Biao, with a cold voice, stroked the sword at his waist and threw the words at him.

"I've come to punish Director Zhao."

"Wh-what?"

"Tell Director Zhao to come out. I won't ask again."

After saying this, Jiang Biao used his inner strength to emit a deep, resonant voice.

"From now on, Baiyun Escort Agency will punish Director Zhao Chashik of the Wind Cloud Martial Hall! Unrelated people, stand over here; those involved, stay there!"

The officials, who had stopped their lesson and were puzzled by what was happening, quickly began to move over to our side. Some even ran over, fearing they might get caught in the crossfire.

In contrast, the instructors were flustered, unsure of what to do, and busy trying to figure out what was going on.

"Zhao Chashik, come out!"

"Zhao Chashik, pay for your crimes!"

As we shouted loudly, a man hurriedly came out from the inner hall. It was Zhao Chashik of the Wind Cloud Sword.

"What's going on here!"

"That, Director. Suddenly, the Baiyun Escort Agency..."

One of the instructors, looking equally puzzled, explained the situation. Zhao Chashik's face turned red, and he shouted at us.

"What's the meaning of this?! As a fellow martial artist, how can you do this! Suddenly storming in and committing such outrageous acts of tyranny!"

As Zhao Chashik shouted, his face flushed with shame and anger, Jiang Biao sneered and mocked him.

"Hmph, Director Zhao! We already know that you hired the Black Alliance to ambush our Baiyun Escort Agency."

"What?!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chashik's face turned ashen, as if wondering how they could have known.

At that moment, one of the bodyguards brought out the chief supervisor, who had been hiding behind us.

"What?! Why are you here...!"

Seeing the chief supervisor, Zhao Chashik exclaimed in surprise. Jiang Biao gave the trembling chief supervisor, who didn't know where to look, a fierce glance and pressed him with a heavy voice.

"Speak up. What did Director Zhao do wrong?"

"T-that... Director Zhao of the Wind Cloud Martial Hall... hired the Black Alliance..."

The chief supervisor explained the entire incident from beginning to end. Zhao Chashik's face turned pale as the detailed information about the commission, the payment, and how he had contacted them flowed from the chief supervisor's mouth.

"...And that's how we ambushed the Baiyun Escort Agency."

After the terrified chief supervisor confessed everything, Zhao Chashik's fingers trembled, and he pointed at us.

"So, a few days ago, that perverted mask was your doing...!"

I immediately used my lightness skill to leap forward and shouted.

"You, Zhao Chashik! Your vile sins cover the Sumi Mountain, yet you still hold your head high! Prepare to pay for your crimes!"

"?"

"??"

My sudden outburst made both Bai Linghua and Jiang Biao look at me with surprise, wondering why I had suddenly taken the initiative. I didn't stop and continued to berate Zhao Chashik.

"Hey! Bow your head and pay for your crimes!"

"Who are you! How dare you...!"

"I am a mid-level bodyguard of the Baiyun Escort Agency!"

Upon hearing that he was a mid-level bodyguard, Zhao Chashik looked incredulous, then his eyes narrowed with anger, and he shouted, waving his finger.

"Mid-level bodyguard?! A nobody like you has no right to insult me!"

Enraged, Zhao Chashik immediately drew his sword. Surprisingly, there was no sound of the sword being drawn from its scabbard. His movement was so natural that it seemed as if he had always been holding the sword.

'Indeed, a master is a master!'

I was amazed and stopped my taunting, immediately stepping back. Now it was time for Bai Linghua to take over. I glanced at Bai Linghua's face. Despite witnessing Zhao Chashik's martial prowess, Bai Linghua remained calm and composed.

Seeing this, I was puzzled.

'What method does he have to stop Zhao Chashik?'

Zhao Chashik was a master at the initial stage of the peak level, similar to Yan Junse, but unlike Yan Junse, who had gained an advantage through the zombie technique, Zhao Chashik had reached his position purely through his sword skills.

Considering this, even winning was a secondary concern; at the very least, it would take at least six masters to make a fight of it. I counted the number of masters among us.

Bai Linghua, Jiang Biao, Wei Jiyan, Guo Dushan.

'Only four!'

Surely, he wasn't counting on the bodyguards and townspeople behind us?

I glanced at the bodyguards and townspeople behind us. Of course, the more people there were, the harder it would be for Zhao Chashik to openly wield his sword, but...

'That would be a foolish move.'

Generally, in history, strategies that rely on the opponent's restraint often end in miserable failure. A classic example is the "Peace for Our Time" incident just before World War II.

A year before World War II, a madman with a mustache from Germany made the novel claim that "where many Germans live, it is German land" and demanded that the Sudetenland be handed over to Western powers.

At the time, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain deeply pondered this mad claim.

'Should I wipe them all out?'

'No, be patient, England.'

In the end, after much deliberation, Chamberlain decided to hand over the Sudetenland to Germany, thinking that even if they took this, they wouldn't start a war.

For the record, it wasn't British land but Czech land. It was a truly ungreat act by the ungreat British Empire.

Afterward, he returned from Munich with the agreement to hand over the Sudetenland and proudly announced to the citizens.

'This is the peace of our time!'

As everyone knows, the lesson that giving a madman a piece of cake leads to the invasion of Poland remains in world history.

Thus, strategies that rely on the opponent's restraint often lead to unintended results.

'Surely, Bai Linghua didn't think of such a plan.'

Just as I was thinking this, a deep, growling voice came from the back where people were gathered.

"It's been a while, Zhao Chashik."

"Y-you...?!"

Zhao Chashik looked flustered. The person who emerged from the crowd was none other than Fan Qianbai. His natural appearance surprised me as well.

'What? When did he get here?'

He was truly a mysterious old man. Only then did I understand why Bai Linghua had said, "There's more to it than that" when we went to the Zheng Family Manor.

Fan Qianbai, once a member of the Hubei Three Heroes and now one of the Hubei Ten Masters, was currently a guest at the Zheng Family Manor.

'So, he brought Fan Qianbai along!'

Fan Qianbai was a master who could handle Zhao Chashik with ease. As I marveled at Bai Linghua's foresight, Fan Qianbai scolded Zhao Chashik with a stern voice.

"I've heard everything from Director Bai here. It was truly despicable. I almost wanted to wash my ears! I may have ignored it due to lack of interest, but I didn't know you had become so vile!"

"You, you old man...!"

Fan Qianbai sternly scolded Zhao Chashik and took out a black-glowing glove from his robe, putting it on his hand. It was the famous Black Iron Glove of Fan Qianbai.

'Supposedly, it's as soft as leather and as hard as steel, impervious to blades.'

It was a rare treasure, considered one of the new weapons in the martial world. Like a seasoned laborer putting on work gloves, Fan Qianbai put on the glove with a flourish, spat, and said.

"What more is there to say? I will punish you here and restore the discipline of the martial world."

Zhao Chashik, not to be outdone, shouted back.

"Try me, old man! I've been waiting to break your puny glove and show you the true power of the sword!"

Zhao Chashik raised his sword. Thus, their life-or-death battle began. Everyone in the hall was so engrossed in the fight that they didn't even swallow their saliva.

I was no exception.

'A battle between peak masters.'

It was a rare sight, worth more than a thousand pieces of gold.

"Take this!"

Fan Qianbai roared like a lion and charged at Zhao Chashik. His momentum was so fierce that it seemed he could turn Zhao Chashik into a piece of meat at any moment.

"Hmph!"

However, Zhao Chashik, drawing Fan Qianbai in, swung his sword a few times, enveloped in a blue sword aura. A few intense exchanges followed, and the black aura of the glove and the blue sword aura clashed, sending sparks flying.

Fan Qianbai, who seemed poised to crush Zhao Chashik in one move, took a few steps back after the exchange. I was inwardly impressed.

'Amazing!'

Surprisingly, Zhao Chashik had managed to break Fan Qianbai's momentum in just a few moves!

Now that my martial skills had improved, I could clearly see the significance of this. Zhao Chashik had skillfully cut off the path Fan Qianbai could take, forcing him to stop. It was a high-level exchange that only masters could achieve.

'Fan Qianbai is at a disadvantage...! Is the sword truly superior to the fist?'

As I was thinking this, I overheard a conversation between Bai Linghua and Jiang Biao.

"Hmm... As expected, Master Fan is remarkable. He didn't just rely on momentum but accurately identified and countered Director Zhao's trap."

"Yes. His reading of the moves is truly meticulous. Director Zhao has suffered significant losses from this."

Huh?

Turning my head, I saw Beigong Lin and Wei Jiyan having a conversation. They were admiring the exchange.

"Master Fan is truly meticulous. He cleverly dismantled Director Zhao's trap."

"Hmm... Yes. It seems Master Fan's skills have improved even further."

'...'

I maintained a composed expression and interjected.

"Haha, as expected of Master Fan. He is truly remarkable."

"Um...? Ah, yes... Did you also notice, Cheng Biao?"

When I suddenly interjected, Beigong Lin looked at me with a puzzled expression. I smiled, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Of course. It's only natural."

"I see... Hmm. For someone at your level, it's quite a high-level exchange to observe. You have excellent observational skills."

"Of course. I have good eyesight."

2.0, you know.

While having this conversation, the battle between Fan Qianbai and Zhao Chashik continued.

Zhao Chashik relentlessly attacked Fan Qianbai with his sword, but Fan Qianbai dodged and countered with his aura-filled fists, engaging in a high-level exchange.

In an instant, fists and swords clashed dozens of times. The clash of auras sent sparks flying in all directions. As Zhao Chashik continued to suffer losses, he gritted his teeth and shouted.

"Fan Qianbai...! You scoundrel!"

"Disgusting. You've gained so much fat that even a pig in a pigsty would be better than you."

"Ugh! You old dog!"

As Fan Qianbai mocked Zhao Chashik, he became extremely angry and spewed curses. However, Fan Qianbai ignored him and continued to taunt while maintaining a high-speed exchange.

"When a martial artist is consumed by greed, his sword rots. Do you understand?"

Zhao Chashik, grinding his teeth, shouted back.

"You old man, you were rejected by Xichuan Sword Maiden after chasing her around with that face. What right do you have to talk about rotting? Your face is more rotten!"

At that moment, Fan Qianbai's eyes bulged. He seemed unable to tolerate this insult and began to curse in a low, vulgar manner.

"You, you son of a bitch?!"

It seemed that this was a sore spot for him. Zhao Chashik, feeling triumphant, continued to shout.

"I heard it all. I almost burst out laughing! Old man, you need to know your place."

"I'll kill you! You scoundrel!!!"

As Fan Qianbai's backstory was revealed to everyone, they looked solemn. It was truly a cruel attack.

However, seeing everyone's expressions, I was inwardly impressed.

'Zhao Chashik... Remarkable. When martial skills fail, he knows how to attack socially.'

Provoking someone emotionally through trash talk is not easy. People don't get angry just because you say something. It requires a precise psychological attack.

A good example of such an attack is the term "otaku." While it doesn't apply to everyone, for certain people, it can be an extremely provoking insult.

'I need to learn this.'

After this battle, regardless of what happens to Zhao Chashik, Fan Qianbai will find it difficult to hold his head high in Mayang County. It was truly a battle with many lessons to learn.

—Boom!

—Clang!

The battle between Fan Qianbai and Zhao Chashik intensified. In fact, if Fan Qianbai hadn't suffered psychological damage, the fight would have been easier for him.

"And if you were going to give flowers, at least choose decent ones. What, picking dandelions and saying, 'This is a man's pure love.' Ridiculous. Do you lose your sense of shame as you age?"

"Gr-gr-gr! I'll turn you into fish paste today! You scoundrel!!!"

Zhao Chashik continued to taunt Fan Qianbai psychologically while swinging his sword. Each time, Fan Qianbai's movements became more erratic.

—Clang! Clang!

—Boom!

However, the fundamental difference in skill couldn't be overturned. Despite the intense exchange, the battle gradually tilted in Fan Qianbai's favor.

At that moment—

"I've got you!"

"What—!"

With that, Fan Qianbai's fist flew.

—Boom!!

For a moment, as they crossed paths, Fan Qianbai's fist shot out like a cannon. It wasn't just a metaphor; it seemed as if a cannonball had exploded from his fist. The sound was like a 60mm mortar hitting its target.

The result was terrifying.

"Ugh!!!"

Zhao Chashik's sword, which he had tried to block the blow with, shattered and disappeared, and his left arm exploded and vanished. Zhao Chashik, clutching his missing left arm with his right hand, looked extremely pained and spoke.

"Fist... Fist Aura? When... How?!"

"About a year ago. I had a small enlightenment."

Fist Aura (拳罡)!

It was the Aura (罡氣) that only a master at the intermediate peak level could display. Fan Qianbai had reached that level.

I felt my hands tremble involuntarily as I witnessed a real martial arts battle. The superhuman blow, which no human could possibly deliver, was so impressive that it almost moved me to tears.

'Truly remarkable.'

Zhao Chashik, having lost his left arm, staggered and trembled. Despite his recent loss, he maintained a composed expression and said.

"You old dog. You hid your skills well."

"A martial artist should be ashamed of not noticing such a thing. Don't you think so?"

With that, Fan Qianbai delivered a sharp retort. Zhao Chashik, with a trickle of thick blood at the corner of his mouth, replied.

"Sometime, I will definitely repay this!"

"Do you think you'll get the chance?"

Fan Qianbai approached to finish Zhao Chashik off. At that moment, Zhao Chashik took something from his robe and threw it to the ground.

—Boom!

"Cough, cough?!"

A massive cloud of dust spread in all directions. What Zhao Chashik had thrown was a smoke bomb.

'Where did he get that from?'

I covered my mouth and nose and stepped back. The enormous smoke cloud enveloped everyone. The smoke was so thick that even people right next to each other couldn't see each other.

After about a minute, the wind blew, and the smoke cleared. Fortunately, it didn't seem to contain any poison, as no one complained of any symptoms after the smoke dissipated.

"Cough, cough. Director Zhao...?"

Bai Linghua coughed a few times and looked around where Fan Qianbai and Zhao Chashik had been. Only Fan Qianbai was standing there. Fan Qian