Chapter 66: That's the Problem.

While I was dancing wildly around the stiffened Yusa-cheong, Hongshin said,

"Big Brother, they're slowly retreating."

"What?"

I stopped dancing like someone who had just snapped out of a trance and turned around. A few of the scoundrels who were retreating stumbled and fell, then quickly got up and scattered like retreating soldiers.

Throughout this, Li Longnong maintained a stern expression and glared at me.

I said to Li Longnong, who was pretending to be calm,

"Old man, anything to say?"

Li Longnong replied,

"It's just a temporary truce as agreed."

Bai Ren stepped forward and said,

"Big Brother, let's kill more."

"Enough. A truce is a truce. Defending the city is defending the city. Look at the expressions and the atmosphere of those retreating. Even the leaders are trying hard to look calm. Enjoy it now."

As Li Longnong retreated first, Shu Xiansheng had no choice but to follow. He glared at me and said,

"You, we'll meet again soon."

I smiled and replied,

"Those who come and surrender first will be treated as surrendering generals. Go back and think about it carefully. Will there be another chance to survive, or not? Think about it seriously."

After the enemy retreated, I looked at my subordinates.

"Check the injured first. It's late, let's go in. The defense of the city is over. Xiao Junping, take the lead in setting up the guard, then switch with other officers."

"Understood."

I slapped the stiffened Yusa-cheong's cheek and said,

"Prisoners also suffer. It's cold at night, let's go in together."

A subordinate of the Black Cat Gang came over and carried Yusa-cheong. I called for Cheng Tai.

"Cheng Tai."

"Yes."

I didn't really have anything to say. I just patted Cheng Tai on the shoulder and headed towards the Black Cat Gang.

"Let's go."

* * *

I sat in the main seat and had a drink. Meanwhile, the officers moved around freely. I let the injured be treated, the sleepy ones sleep, and the hungry ones eat.

Yusa-cheong, bound and seated next to me, silently watched the busy officers.

After a while, the disciples and officers returned and filled the empty seats.

Everyone was curious about Yusa-cheong's identity.

Dugu Sheng, who had arrived last after washing the blood off his face and body, passed by and slapped Yusa-cheong's head before sitting down.

"Are they all here?"

Xiao Junping replied to my question,

"Big Brother Wu has a slight injury and wants to rest first."

Dugu Sheng, who had put down his wine cup, suddenly got angry and slapped Yusa-cheong's cheek again. With a *slap*, Yusa-cheong's face turned.

I looked around at the Twelve Generals.

"Are the disciples all fine?"

"Yes."

"Fine."

Cheng Tai also reported his condition.

"I'm fine too."

I nodded.

"You should be fine."

Xiao Junping asked about the overall strategy,

"What about Li Longnong and Shu Xiansheng in the future?"

"Wait. Their losses are much greater. They'll have two sleepless nights, eat uncomfortably, and feel uneasy even when going to the toilet. After provocation, confusion, and defeat, only fear and unease remain. They are strong-willed, but their subordinates will be shaken and become even weaker than before."

Bai Yu unexpectedly said,

"Big Brother, you're good at dancing. I should have done a fan dance beside you."

I smiled.

"Let's dance together next time."

"Sure."

Bai Ren, who had been glaring at Yusa-cheong, asked me,

"Big Brother, what do you think of this guy?"

"What do you think?"

Bai Ren mentioned Yusa-cheong's sword technique first.

"It's not something that can be learned in the Black Path."

"Why don't you explain it to the others. Cheng Tai might not know."

Bai Ren briefly answered,

"I felt that he had rigorously trained his stance before practicing sword techniques. When he was pressing Big Brother at the beginning, the flow of his sword technique was consistent. He's not someone who learned a mediocre sword technique."

"I agree."

Dugu Sheng glared at Yusa-cheong.

"Is this guy from the White Path?"

Dugu Sheng's harsh palm slapped Yusa-cheong's cheek again. Since Yusa-cheong didn't speak, Hongshen, who was curious, asked,

"Big Brother, did you press his mute point?"

"Probably."

"Should I release it?"

"You can't. I can't either. I've pressed it many times but haven't practiced releasing it much because it's troublesome. Since I didn't inject much power, it will be released soon."

In fact, I hadn't memorized the names of the pressure points properly. I only knew roughly what effect pressing certain points would have. Since I learned it for attacking, I didn't bother to learn how to release it.

Hongshen said casually,

"The mute point is quite dangerous. If not released quickly, he might not be able to speak anymore."

I replied briefly,

"Not my problem."

"Understood."

I chatted with my subordinates as if I had no worries. We brought leftover food from the kitchen, shared it, drank, and laughed throughout the time.

After about half an hour...

A subordinate reported from outside the hall,

"Lord, the leader of Wu Oa Sect has come to the main gate without his weapons. What should we do?"

"What to do? If he came, let him in."

While the officers and disciples looked at each other in confusion, the leader of Wu Oa Sect entered the hall with two disciples.

The leader of Wu Oa Sect bowed and said,

"Lord, I am Yang Zaijing, the leader of Wu Oa Sect."

I nodded slightly and replied,

"Leader Yang, welcome."

Yang Zaijing laughed awkwardly and said,

"I don't know how to say this..."

"Speak freely."

"Wu Oa Sect will not be your enemy in the future. We made a mistake due to lack of information. Please..."

Yang Zaijing was stammering, so I nodded.

"Let it be."

"I am grateful for your magnanimity."

Yang Zaijing gestured to his disciples, who placed a box at my feet and opened the lid. Inside the large box, half were gold ingots and half were silver ingots, shining brightly.

I clicked my tongue and said,

"Why did you bring such things? Between us, tsk. How much is this? It's a lot. I should take care of the Black Cat Gang too. Leader, are you overdoing it?"

I kicked the box to close the lid and stood up.

"Our first meeting wasn't good, but we won't be enemies in the future. That's how life goes. Leader, don't you agree?"

I tapped Yang Zaijing's shoulder, and he nodded, startled.

"Yes, I agree."

"In the martial world, sometimes enemies become allies, and allies become enemies. If you're unlucky, you might get killed. Don't take it to heart."

"Ah, yes. I will remember. We will not join Li Longnong or Shu Xiansheng again."

"That's good news."

"I prepared this, though it's modest, and came a bit late. It's late, so I'll leave now."

"Take care. Bringing such things in the middle of the night. Good work."

Yang Zaijing quickly bowed and turned to leave with his subordinates. As he was about to leave the hall, I called him.

"Leader Yang."

"Ah, yes."

"Let's have a meal together next time."

"Ahaha, sure. Lord, I'll see you then."

After Yang Zaijing left and the hall door closed, a moment of silence fell.

"..."

Dugu Sheng, who had been watching everything with wide eyes, looked at me.

Dugu Sheng seemed to want to say something, so I asked,

"Why?"

Dugu Sheng replied with a truly stern expression,

"Really funny."

It was funny to Dugu Sheng, who couldn't understand it at all, and it was also funny in the overall context of Yang Zaijing's actions. However, when Dugu Sheng said it with a completely serious face, the disciples and officers burst out laughing.

"Ha ha ha ha..."

I also chuckled.

"It is funny."

While everyone was laughing, Yusa-cheong alone had a stiff expression. Naturally, everyone's attention turned to him.

Dugu Sheng looked at Yusa-cheong.

"Why aren't you laughing? Did you get a pressure point on your face too?"

Dugu Sheng raised his hand as if to slap Yusa-cheong again, making Yusa-cheong's stiff face tremble.

Dugu Sheng pretended to lower his hand but then slapped Yusa-cheong mercilessly.

*Slap!*

I didn't care how Dugu Sheng treated the prisoner. Dugu Sheng had led his subordinates and fought for their lives, so he had the right to do so.

I thought to myself,

'Was Yang Zaijing the first to come and gauge the situation?'

As soon as Yang Zaijing left, a subordinate reported,

"Lord, Iron Island Lady has come."

I slightly raised my voice and scolded the subordinate,

"It's cold at night. Why are you asking instead of bringing her in? Bring her in."

Iron Island Lady entered the hall with a stiff expression. She looked more awkward than Yang Zaijing and seemed to have something stuck in her throat.

I spoke first,

"Iron Island Lady, I almost failed my mission because of the fierce darts you threw. Your dart-throwing skills are exceptional."

Iron Island Lady finally spoke,

"Yes, Lord. I apologize. So..."

"Speak freely."

"I and my disciples will leave Li Longnong's side and return to Liuhua Valley. We will not obstruct the Black Cat Gang's path in the future. I will also inform and warn my friends. Please be lenient with today's mistake."

I nodded.

"Sometimes things happen in a fight. Let it be. Is Liuhua Valley's leader well?"

"Yes, he is still dedicated to martial arts practice."

"Iron Island Lady, you've worked hard traveling to earn money. Now that we know each other, I hope Liuhua Valley won't be my enemy in the future."

Iron Island Lady nodded.

"Understood."

"It's late, take care."

Iron Island Lady hesitated, then took something out of her bosom and placed it on the table.

"Lord, this is the Changuang Dagger, which I have cherished since my youth. I offer it as a token of my words."

"Ah, why did you bring such a thing... tsk. I'll use it well. I was thinking of carrying a dagger for protection, and this is perfect. It looks very sharp."

"It's a masterpiece, short but can slice through a long sword like a dumpling. It's also suitable for assassination."

"We martial artists like masterpieces. I'll use it well. Please convey my regards to the leader."

"Understood, I'll leave now."

After Iron Island Lady left, Hongshen asked curiously,

"Will anyone else come?"

I looked at Xiao Junping.

"Go outside and check if there are any scoundrels. Identify them, intimidate them a bit, and let them go. It's troublesome to deal with them. You can take any bribes they offer."

Xiao Junping stood up.

"Understood."

As soon as Xiao Junping left, I drank a cup of wine and slapped Yusa-cheong's cheek. With a *slap*, the bound Yusa-cheong fell off the chair.

*Thud!*

An officer at the end of the hall quickly ran over and set the chair upright.

I said to my subordinates,

"It's late, find an empty room and rest. There should be many available rooms now that the troublemakers have left. I need to think about whether to just kill this guy or torture him to death."

"Understood."

The subordinates stood up.

After a while, only Yusa-cheong, the Changuang Dagger, and I were left in the large hall.

I tapped the Changuang Dagger with my fingertips and muttered to myself,

"Our teacher sometimes told us to try it, but it's not easy. It feels awkward. Even those who came to apologize felt awkward, but I was awkward too."

I had been drinking and thinking about Murong Bai's advice. Changing for the better and living differently from the past is not easy.

"Still, our teacher gave us good advice for our own good. I should try. Don't you think?"

"..."

"Wow, I've changed a lot. I used to just beat and kill enemies, smash and kill them, or chop them with an axe. What's happening to me? Is this what they call a sense of time passing? Or a change in the world? Are both wrong?"

"..."

I looked into Yusa-cheong's eyes and asked coldly,

"Why do you have that look? Do I seem ignorant? Do I look uneducated?"

"..."

Yusa-cheong's mouth moved. Was the pressure point about to be released? His mouth kept moving, and sweat formed on his forehead.

I drank a cup of wine and sighed seriously,

"To kill or not to kill, that is the question."

I drew the Changuang Dagger and stuck it on the table.