Chapter 36

Chapter 35. You, brat? Are you from the Zhongnan Sect? (5)

He did not underestimate his opponent.

Although Gong Wanye is considered a half-baked martial artist, his mindset is no less genuine than that of a true martial artist. It is a rule that one who treads the path of martial arts should never underestimate their opponent. Even tigers give their all when catching rabbits, don't they?

Moreover, after seeing the masked man's skill in subduing the guards, there was no room for complacency.

However...

Something felt off.

Look.

Thud.

The fist, pulled back to its fullest extent, had not even extended forward when it was blocked at the chest, by the tip of a scabbard.

When he tried to strike the scabbard, it was already gone. The internal energy he had gathered in his dantian, ready to surge forward, twisted and turned, unable to find an outlet.

"Ugh!"

The sensation of the internal energy reversing was vividly felt.

"Y-You!"

He tried to strike the masked man with a spinning kick, but the masked man was no longer there.

"Too slow."

"Ah!"

The voice from behind made Gong Wanye jump in surprise, and he swung his fist backward.

But it was the same this time as well.

Thud!

"Ugh!"

The internal energy drawn from the dantian should have been amplified through the waist and chest, then launched through the arm and fist. But what happens when the launch pad is blocked at the moment of takeoff?

Bang!

A sound like something bursting was heard inside his body. At the same time, his shoulder area swelled up.

Though he couldn't see it, the muscles around his shoulder must have torn.

"Ah!"

And the same thing happened again.

"Ah!"

He gathered all his internal energy and kicked the masked man. But the masked man didn't even seem to try to avoid it. He simply took a step back, as if swatting away a bothersome fly.

Gong Wanye's kick grazed the masked man's chest. The wind pressure made the night robe tremble, but not a single hair on the masked man's body was touched.

'What kind of harmony is this?'

He couldn't regain his composure.

Is he fast?

No.

Is he strong?

No, that's not it either.

The masked man was neither fast nor strong. Judging by his appearance, Gong Wanye could handle ten of him. But now, Gong Wanye couldn't even touch the masked man's clothes. It was as if he were a young disciple facing his master, no matter how desperately he tried, nothing worked.

Look now.

His strike, filled with internal energy, flew toward the masked man's face. If it grazed him, it would tear his flesh and shatter his bones. But it couldn't even graze him.

The masked man casually tilted his head, as if avoiding a three-year-old's hand, perfectly countering his attack.

How is this possible?

He's not fast.

But he is fast.

He didn't move with a speed that was invisible to the eye or with an overwhelming presence. But he moved with a slow, yet precise and perfect timing, always in the right direction and at the right distance.

A movement without any waste.

It was a realm that every martial artist dreamed of. But facing this dream realm right in front of him, Gong Wanye felt utterly disheartened.

It's like seeing a demon.

Clearly fighting a human, yet he doesn't feel like he's facing anyone. He can see him clearly, but can't even touch him, no matter how hard he tries.

If the masked man moved so fast that his eyes couldn't follow, he would know his limits and back off. But with just a difference of a sheet of paper, missing by a hair, it was driving him to the brink of madness.

'This guy is a monster.'

If it were just about dodging, he wouldn't be so tense. But the masked man's martial arts were not just about dodging.

'He reads all my moves.'

Before the punch even extends, he anticipates the spot where it will land. He restrains the internal energy that should surge forward, causing it to reverse.

It's different from Wudang's Softness Overcomes Hardness. This is a wondrous harmony of speed and foresight.

He can't even guess how strong he is.

'This started wrong.'

A monster is unpredictable, and if he had known there was such a monster in Huashan, he would never have meddled with Huashan.

But...

"Ugh."

The masked man, who had been dodging Gong Wanye's attacks, bent over and grabbed his waist.

"Ah, damn body. I'm getting old. I'm getting old."

"..."

The masked man panted and patted his waist.

...For a monster, he seems a bit awkward.

Would a master of his caliber be this exhausted from such movements?

It's absurd.

But it was happening right in front of him.

The masked man's chest rose and fell rapidly. The mouth part of the mask was gradually getting wet from his breath. The face exposed through the mask was drenched in sweat, and the sweat trickling down his neck had already soaked his back.

Anyone could see he was on the verge of collapsing.

Yet, he was dodging all the attacks.

"Ugh."

The masked man straightened his back.

"Tsk. I'd like to play a bit more, but I can't. I'm running out of energy."

Gong Wanye's face tensed.

After spending what felt like the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he couldn't even touch the masked man's clothes. Gong Wanye, who prided himself on being one of the few who could stand against anyone in Huashan if he used all his abilities, was being toyed with by an old man he had never seen before.

"Why haven't you come to the forefront until now?"

"What do you want to know?"

Qing Ming twirled his sword and gripped it again.

"People who only have a sharp tongue fall into strange delusions. Do you think I have to answer just because you ask?"

"..."

"Rather, I should be the one asking. For a tavern owner, your martial arts are quite formidable. A man with such martial arts is just running a tavern in Huayin?"

"..."

"Is there a law that says you can't run a tavern if you have strong martial arts?"

"No, but if a tavern owner with such strong martial arts is greedy for money and starts causing trouble, it's a different story. With such martial arts, there are many ways to make money without running a tavern. Yet, you're dealing with drunkards and running a tavern?"

Qing Ming's mouth, hidden by the mask, twitched.

"What are you talking about..."

"Ah, forget it."

Qing Ming cut off Gong Wanye's words.

"I know, I know. You won't talk anyway. There was no conspiracy, no tricks. So don't act like I'm killing you. I haven't received orders from anyone, and I'm not related to anyone. This is all my personal business, right?"

"..., Yes."

"Ah, that's right."

Qing Ming nodded vigorously.

"Most people say that. And unfortunately, those who say that don't confess until they're on their deathbed. But your crime, while serious, isn't serious enough for me to kill you. I'd like to hear the truth, even if I have to separate your bones and flesh, but that would cause problems."

Qing Ming nodded to himself.

"So, here's the problem. Do you know what I do in this situation?"

"..., How would I know?"

"Beat."

Gong Wanye's eyes widened slightly.

"Pardon?"

"Beat."

"..."

Qing Ming tilted his head a couple of times and approached Gong Wanye.

"Anyway, trying to make a guy who won't talk say something just makes me angry. So, let's compromise. You don't talk at all. I'll beat you until I feel satisfied, even if you don't talk."

"..."

"If you change your mind and want to talk, raise your hand and speak. But it's better to think quickly. Once you've been beaten, there's no refund."

"What kind of nonsense is this!"

"Ah, right. Nonsense. That's my specialty. Here I go!"

Qing Ming quickly rushed at Gong Wanye.

Seeing Qing Ming close the distance in an instant, Gong Wanye instinctively stepped back.

He wasn't emitting any aura, and he wasn't using any extraordinary techniques with his sword. The masked man, who looked like he was about to collapse, was just running toward him, yet Gong Wanye had to step back in shock.

Of course, his retreat speed couldn't match Qing Ming's approach speed.

Qing Ming's sword, still in the scabbard, swung at Gong Wanye's left knee. Thinking it was too late to dodge, Gong Wanye gathered internal energy in his arm to block in front of his knee.

Smack!

In the end, Qing Ming's sword struck Gong Wanye's shoulder.

"Ugh!"

A groan involuntarily escaped his lips.

'Shoulder?'

It was clearly aimed at his leg, so why did he get hit on the shoulder?

But he had no time to think. The sword that struck his shoulder swung again, aiming for his head.

This time, he properly positioned himself to block above his head.

Smack!

His vision blurred momentarily.

The world went dark and slowly regained its color. At the same time, his breath was cut off, and his neck felt as if it was breaking.

"Ugh!"

Qing Ming's sword had stabbed his neck. The sword, still in the scabbard, didn't cut his neck, but the scabbard, which was as hard as metal, had struck his neck, causing immense pain.

Tears welled up in his eyes, and his whole body trembled.

Smack! Smack!

In the midst of this, Qing Ming's sword struck again.

Shoulder, head, waist.

Now, he was swinging his sword wildly, like a dog being beaten on a hot day.

What was frustrating was that despite swinging his sword wildly, Gong Wanye couldn't dodge even once. If he twisted his shoulder, he was hit on the waist; if he pulled back his waist, he was hit on the head.

Gong Wanye, whose hair was now disheveled, stepped back in panic.

'Die...'

The fear that he might really be beaten to death momentarily overwhelmed him.

The moment he opened his eyes and looked forward, his gaze met Qing Ming's.

And at that moment, Gong Wanye understood.

Eyes.

Seeing Qing Ming's eyes, devoid of any emotion, Gong Wanye had a sudden realization.

He had seen such eyes many times in his life. And those who had such eyes shared a common trait.

Murderer.

Though he didn't know the masked man's identity, he was clearly someone who had killed countless people. Beating Gong Wanye to death would be as easy for him as swatting a fly.

The sword, swung playfully, would surely cut his throat the moment it left the scabbard, and Gong Wanye would be unable to resist.

'No, no!'

He didn't want to die. At least not here!

At that moment, Qing Ming's sword left the scabbard and struck Gong Wanye's head at a speed like a flash of lightning.

"Ah!"

Gong Wanye's hand glowed green and shot out like a bolt of lightning toward Qing Ming, who was swinging the sword.

Bang!

Gong Waye, who had swung his arm, froze in that position.

"..."

Gone.

Qing Ming, who should have been there, was gone. When Gong Wanye snapped out of it and looked up, Qing Ming was already far away, sheathing his sword.

Qing Ming's mouth opened.

"Taiyi Divine Hand?"

"..."

"You, brat?"

Realizing his mistake, Gong Wanye's face turned pale.

"Are you from the Zhongnan Sect?"

And then his face contorted in horror.