Chapter 87

(87) The Demon's Selection

Jadual kicked the ground with the tip of his foot.

Swish!

The mound of soil that shot up covered the front of Danaksun.

However, Danaksun responded surprisingly calmly.

He was already familiar with the tactic of throwing dirt at the opponent from his previous confrontation with Nengsuomi.

He had long overcome similar tricks through countless practices and studies.

With his eyes closed, Danaksun slightly raised his upper body to avoid the mound of soil and then closed the distance.

He then reached out to grab Jadual's leg.

Or rather, he tried to.

“……!”

Danaksun suddenly lost his balance and fell to the ground.

The moment he took a step to grab his opponent, a sharp pain pierced the sole of his foot.

Seizing the opportunity, Jadual rushed forward.

Danaksun hurriedly tried to counterattack, but the advantage had already shifted.

Before he could even properly engage, Jadual's hand was already at Danaksun's nape.

Danaksun smiled wryly.

“I lost.”

Danaksun, who had readily acknowledged his defeat, bowed his head to inspect his foot.

“Somehow……”

Danaksun couldn't continue.

He had discovered a sharp iron caltrop embedded in the sole of his foot.

A concealed weapon made by connecting pieces of iron in a rhombus shape, ensuring that one of its sharp ends always pointed upward, no matter how it was placed.

From the beginning, kicking up the dirt was a bait to secretly scatter this weapon.

“No one can match you in underhanded tactics.”

Jadual smiled awkwardly at Danaksun's backhanded compliment.

It was then that Chaoakliang, who had been watching the duel from a distance, spoke.

“You must consider all variables in any situation. This is especially true in a life-or-death battle.”

Chaoakliang picked up the iron caltrop rolling on the ground.

“Don’t forget. It’s not the strong who survive, but the survivors who become strong.”

“Yes, I will remember.”

Smiling, Danaksun bowed to Jadual.

“I thank you for your valuable lesson.”

“Eh? Oh, well, sure.”

Jadual smiled awkwardly and nodded.

That afternoon.

After a simple meal, Danaksun began treating the three people.

Danaksun, who was treating Fan Jiewei while he stood on his head, and Fan Jiewei, who casually offered his vital point Baihui, seemed to be in a routine that was entirely natural.

Jadual, who was sitting at a distance, couldn't hide his astonishment.

For the renowned Wangshan Chaozhe to be so defenseless and offer his body like this!

If he hadn't heard that Danaksun was the son of the Divine Doctor and the Demon Doctor, he wouldn't have believed it.

Jadual's mouth was tingling.

But who would believe him if he went around spreading this?

Then, at one moment.

‘What’s that?’

Jadual's eyes took on a peculiar gleam.

He licked his lips to calm his racing heart.

But the passion that had risen was not easily quelled.

A chronic ailment that no doctor in the world could cure.

His curiosity had been piqued.

His gaze, fixed on Danaksun's hands, was reluctant to look away.

The two types of needles, one black and one white, were clearly the Divine Doctor's Shenyang needles and the Demon Doctor's Maling needles.

The contrast was striking.

Jadual, captivated by Danaksun's quick and delicate movements, couldn't help but be drawn in.

“……!”

Jadual's heart began to race again.

Filled with a strange sense of anticipation and excitement, he watched Danaksun intently.

Finally, after completing the treatment, Danaksun stood up to prepare the meal.

“Why don’t you take a break?”

Jadual, who had approached and casually suggested, squatted beside Danaksun.

Though the gazes flying from behind were piercing, Jadual spoke calmly.

“Do you want to learn an interesting game?”

“An interesting game?”

Seeing Danaksun's interest, Jadual took something out of his sleeve and placed it on his palm.

It was a small bead.

The transparent bead, which looked as if it were carved from crystal, clearly possessed extraordinary internal energy.

“This is a game of taking the bead. But you must do it without making a sound.”

Danaksun reached out and picked up the bead from Jadual's palm.

Clang.

A sound immediately came from the bead.

It was a clear and melodious sound that made one feel good just by hearing it.

Danaksun tried several times to move the bead.

But the result was the same.

No matter how carefully he moved, the bead always made a sound.

“This is too difficult.”

“Then, let’s try the opposite.”

This time, Jadual placed the bead on Danaksun's palm.

He then slowly picked it up.

Surprisingly, this time there was no sound.

“Wow! How did you do that just now?”

Jadual smiled smugly at Danaksun's exclamation.

“This isn’t about martial arts, but about using your senses. I believe I am the only person in the world who can move this bead without making a sound.”

Before he could finish, a cold snort came from behind.

It was Hanselhua, who had approached unnoticed.

She cast a derisive glance at him, and Jadual extended his hand.

“Would you like to give it a try, Senior?”

Hanselhua picked up the bead as if it were nothing.

At that moment,

Clang.

Her eyebrows twitched.

This time, she was even more cautious in picking up the bead.

But the result was the same.

The bead made a sound again.

“Did you rig it?”

Jadual jumped at Hanselhua's accusation.

“No way! How could I……”

Trailing off, Jadual placed the bead on Danaksun's palm again.

“Try to take it. But don’t use your internal energy……”

Before Jadual could finish, Hanselhua reached for the bead.

Her hand was already covered in white frost.

She intended to freeze the bead to prevent it from making a sound.

But this time, the bead made a sound even before her hand touched it.

Jadual smiled bitterly.

“……That’s how it is.”

“……”

Hanselhua, whose pride was hurt, glared at the bead.

“Looks interesting.”

Fan Jiewei, who had approached, showed interest.

Chaoakliang also joined in, revealing his curiosity.

Fan Jiewei tried but, as expected, failed.

Chaoakliang, a master of Jinna Shui, also failed.

At first, it seemed he would succeed, but a faint sound was heard at the last moment.

“What’s so difficult about this?”

Fan Jiewei's words made Chaoakliang and Hanselhua frown slightly.

The experts' dignity was already severely damaged by the consecutive failures.

Seeing their discomfort, Jadual quickly turned to Danaksun, fearing that the blame might fall on him.

“Now, it’s your turn. Do you want to try again?”

Danaksun nodded at Jadual's suggestion.

After taking a deep breath to steady his breathing, Danaksun focused on the bead.

When his concentration reached its peak,

Danaksun slowly reached out for the bead.

It was an incredibly slow movement, almost suffocating.

“……!”

At that moment, everyone's eyes, except Danaksun's, widened in surprise.

Surprisingly, the bead made no sound this time.

Especially Shintou, who watched Danaksun with a peculiar intensity.

Clang.

“Ah!”

“Oh……”

“What a pity!”

Different exclamations came from Chaoakliang, Fan Jiewei, and Hanselhua.

The bead made a sound at the last moment, just as success was within reach.

“This is too difficult.”

At Danaksun's regretful sigh, Jadual licked his lips.

It was a habit he had when his curiosity was piqued.

“Your senses are remarkable. With a bit of practice, you can do it like me.”

Smiling awkwardly, Danaksun listened as Jadual continued.

“If you succeed, I’ll take you to a good place.”

“A good place?”

Danaksun, who had thrown a curious glance, suddenly frowned.

“Do you mean a brothel?”

“Eh?”

Jadual was taken aback by Danaksun's question.

He had only thought of a performance by the Qiyi Troupe.

He never expected Danaksun to mention a brothel.

After all, it was far too early for someone his age to visit such a place.

“Have you been to a brothel before?”

“Yes, I’ve been to a place called Li Hua Lou with Uncle Fan.”

“Li Hua Lou? You don’t mean the Li Hua Lou in Wuhuan, do you?”

“Eh? You know that place too, Uncle?”

“……”

Jadual was speechless with astonishment.

How could he not know the famous spot in Wuhuan, which was said to surpass Xiaohang?

Wuhuan was more famous for Li Hua Lou than for the Martial Arts Alliance, especially among the leisurely men who enjoyed drinking and dancing.

He himself had yet to visit the place.

Though he longed to see it with his own eyes, he dared not enter Wuhuan, where the Martial Arts Alliance was located.

So he had been eagerly waiting for an opportunity to visit.

But to hear Li Hua Lou mentioned by Danaksun!

Jadual cleared his throat.

“Ahem. So, how was it?”

Despite his loss of face, he asked, but the answer was unexpected.

“It was nothing special.”

“Eh? Why?”

“I was so exhausted that I was completely drained.”

Jadual chuckled.

“If it was your first time, that’s understandable.”

“First time? It’s something I’m used to.”

“Used to?”

“Yes. It was still tiring, though. I had to deal with all the courtesans there, unlike usual.”

“……!”

Jadual's eyes shook uncontrollably.

“All the courtesans at Li Hua Lou……?”

Danaksun nodded with a bitter smile.

“Thanks to that, I stayed up all night.”

Jadual turned to Fan Jiewei with a shocked look.

Seeing that he didn’t deny it, it seemed to be true.

Danaksun’s eyes didn’t show any signs of lying.

‘What an incredible guy!’

Though it was actually for treatment, Jadual couldn’t help but admire him internally.

How could anyone be so exceptional to embrace all the courtesans in one night?

He even wondered if it was the reincarnation of Lao Ai, who was favored by the Empress Dowager of the Qin Dynasty and ennobled as the Marquis of Changxin.

In any case, Jadual, who had discovered another side of Danaksun, swallowed his satisfaction.

He thought Danaksun was a closed-off person, but it turned out he could also enjoy the finer things in life.

This was enough to meet the conditions.

‘Great! I’ve made up my mind!’

Jadual, who had solidified his thoughts, handed the bead to Danaksun.

“Take it.”

“Really?”

Seeing Danaksun's brightening face, Jadual nodded with a pleased expression.

“It’s a gift.”

“Thank you.”

“No, I should be the one to thank you.”

“Eh?”

“No, nothing……”

Jadual, who had trailed off, suddenly felt a tingling at the back of his neck.

Turning his head, he saw the three people staring at him with suspicious eyes.

“Gui Ying Magua giving a gift?”

Chaoakliang's words were picked up by Fan Jiewei.

“Has anything ever come out of his hands again?”

“……”

Hanselhua also stared at Jadual silently.

Feeling their uncomfortable gazes, Jadual swallowed hard.

At this moment, Danaksun smiled and said,

“Using the bead for practice might help with acupuncture. There’s no better tool to train the delicate sensations in your fingertips.”

Jadual's eyes sparkled.

“That’s exactly it! It was made for that purpose.”