Chapter 143: I Go First, Here We Go.

The moment I yell at the Sima Clan warrior...

General Gongsun Wol quickly steps in.

"Please look at me, Leader Sima and Leader Lee."

At that moment, everyone looks at Gongsun Wol.

Disregarding Gongsun Wol's status as a general of the Alliance, she is an attractive and beautiful woman. Even all the bandits look at Gongsun Wol at once.

Is this why Im So-baek appointed her as a general?

With everyone's utmost attention, Gongsun Wol says,

"A duel is not a death match. If the Low-Down Sect Leader and Sima Clan are both going into this with the intent of bearing grudges against each other after the duel, then there's no need to do this. Do you promise to accept the results after the duel?"

Sima Hak nods.

"That's obvious."

I nod too.

"Of course."

Gongsun Wol looks at me.

"You should bear in mind for the Low Down and Sima Clan to remain in good allies with the orthodox faction after the duel."

I answer with a begrudging remark.

"What kind of power does Low-Down Sect have? We're a faction that welcomes bandits. We can't compare ourselves to the Sima Clan."

After I finish, I hand over the horse reins to Jangsan who is waiting.

"......."

General Gongsun nods.

"I will be a witness and report the match and conversation that took place today to the leader. Manager?"

A man replies among the Mount Heng warriors.

"General Gongsun."

"Will you form a circle for the duel?"

"Let's do it."

The man tells the Mount Heng warriors as if it was no big deal,

"Everyone spread out."

"Yes."

The members of Mount Heng scatter and stand in a wide circle.

Mount Heng Manager says,

"All the spectators, please stay behind the warriors who made a circular formation. This is a warning. Intervention during a duel is as severe as an assassination attempt and will be extradited to the alliance. I hope you will not be foolish enough to throw hidden weapons. Their skills are unpredictable, so spread out wider."

"Yes."

In an instant, a truly spacious space is set up.

As he walks to the center, Sima Hak asks,

"Leader, what would you prefer?"

I also answer as I walk to the center.

"I'm a sect leader that recruits bandits, how could I possibly choose? Do as you please."

Sima Hak replies with a smile,

"Leader, aren't you being too petty? How interesting."

I say with a smile, too.

"Being petty is interesting? Pick a side. Is it Sima Clan's tradition to throw insults in a roundabout way?"

I make eye contact with Sima Hak and fake laugh.

"Hahahaha."

Sima Hak says,

"This might not be a death match, but you still can get seriously hurt, so be careful."

"Take it easy. How shameful would it be to clench your teeth against a junior that recruits bandits? Other Clan Leaders will laugh at you."

When I persistently mention bandits, Sima Hak's laughter gradually disappears.

"Let's do it this way. We will compete with fists first, and if we end up going nowhere we'll use weapons. Now that we've come this far, should we also use martial arts skills? I wonder what martial arts the Low Down masters."

"Sure."

Standing three jangs1 away from Sima Hak, I tie my hair.

'I'm thirsty. I need a glass of water. Come to think of it, I didn't even get a glass of water. Damn it...'

As I stand still, Sima Hak makes an unexpected suggestion.

"You can go first."

"Really? I've never done this before. Is this right?"

"There are times when I yield to three tactics, but I don't know your skills, so I'll just yield the first offense."

"Okay, thank you for your consideration."

"Don't mention it."

I yawn and hurriedly block with my left hand, then widen the distance a little. The yawn was a long one.

'When on earth can I get some good shut-eye?'

I check Sima Hak over and over again.

"Then Leader Sima, I will go first."

As soon as Sima Hak nods...

Swirling Fiery Fowl in my right hand, I glance at Sima Hak.

"......."

Without exposing its aggressive nature, I inject a moderate amount of Qi into Fiery Fowl. Naturally, the power is somewhat lower than the power that I used to blow off Namak Sect's wooden barricade.

Sima Hak looks at me with a slightly puzzled expression.

"What?"

It may be because I have not yet launched an attack even though I have red extreme Yang energy wrapped around my hand.

Literally, I have neither unleashed nor made a preemptive attack.

I scratch my head with my left hand and casually look at the bandits. Just in time, the eyes of the bandits were comically big as if they were going to pop.

"......!"

Jang San looks at me as if he is about to say something but holds back. His mouth is half open, and he blanks out.

Sima Hak asks me,

"Leader, what are you doing?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm not feeling well today."

"Flame on my hand...."

I smile dryly and gently wrap my left hand with Crescent Moon Ice Technique which is significantly weaker than Waxing Moon Ice Technique.

I move my hands around in the shape of Taegeuk like a clown juggling balls left and right.

"Ready? Now, here I come. Ta-da-da, Ta-da-da, Ta-da-da, boom-cha-cha..."

A reddish energy and frosty energy circled in the air. Only then did Sima Hak say with a stiff expression.

"......No!"

'No my ass, you son of a bitch.'

I shoot a palm wind of Light Sky of the Sun and Moon swirling with extreme Yin and extreme Yang energy.

Light Sky of the Sun and Moon spins violently in the air, creating a terrible sound.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzt!

'Shit!' is written all over Sima Hak's expression. He quickly stomps his left foot on the ground, shouting as soon as he crosses two hands.

The Light Sky of the Sun and Moon collides mid-air with the palm force Sima Hak pours out with all his might.

I feel this every time I unleash the Light Sky of the Sun and Moon...

Light Sky of the Sun and Moon tends to drown out all the surrounding sounds in an instant. I don't know why. I created it, so I have no one to ask.

"......!"

Booooooooooooooooooooooom!

If the Light Sky of the Sun and Moon were made from the combination of Fiery Fragrance and Crescent Moon Ice Technique, Sima Hak wouldn't be able to withstand it. However, the combination of beginner-level Fiery Fowl and Waxing Moon Ice Technique would be somewhat in Sima Hak's league.

Maybe not.

With an explosion, Sima Hak flies off.

A half-moon shape scarred the place where the palm force and the Light Sky of the Sun and Moon clashed.

Dust rose like a snowstorm, covering the whole area.

As soon as Sima Hak shot into the air, I run at full speed.

Sima Hak drew an arc and bounced off. Perhaps he was able to come to his senses by the time he arrived on the ground because he barely landed on the floor as he twisted his body.

The whole area is already full of dust due to the impact and aftermath of the Light Sky of the Sun and Moon. As the dust scatters, I appear in front of Sima Hak and purposely stomp my foot in place.

Banggggg!

Broken fragments and flying dust arise once again. Sima Hak's hair was disheveled, his clothes were in tatters.

Does Sima Hak have power left?

He extends two palms again toward me with a spaced-out expression. I purposely swing both fists, violently hit him six, seven times, and punch Sima Hak's abdomen.

Punch!

He fiercely fights back with palm force and fists five or six times aligning with his power and speed. During this, I land my fist on his chest.

Punch!

I intentionally didn't use force.

I control my strength just so I can hit him more.

Sima Hak waves his hands in a struggle while vomiting blood. Wielding Waxing Moon Ice Technique and countering Sima Hak's palm forces...

Punch!

I switch to Finger Technique and hit right at Sima Hak's Dantian....

Stopping, I stare at Sima Hak.

Sima Hak was walking backward, and even his pace of stepping backward was slowing down.

When the dust that was flaring in all directions slowly subsides, I catch up to Sima Hak and whisper,

"Leader Sima, want me to spare you? This is a spar, I should save you, right?"

Sima Hak looks at me with a frantic look.

I speak calmly.

"I think you have some grudges. Should I break your lower abdomen?"

Sima Hak barely opens his mouth, but his chin keeps quivering due Waxing Moon Ice Technique.

"Leader..."

"What?"

"The winner..."

I look around. Feeble folk were all swept away from the aftermath of the Light Sky of the Sun and Moon.

In the meantime, I blow my breath on my fingers.

"You're saying the duel isn't over yet, is it? All right, this is a victory flick."

I inject my fingers with the brute force resulting from hard training and Wooden Fowl, smashing Sima Hak's trembling forehead.

Flick!

Sima Hak's body spins three or four times in the air and rolls to the ground. I stretch out my hands into the air and unfold Great Absorption Technique. I shake off my hands slightly whenever the swirling dust comes near my body.

Dust whooshed around me and Sima Hak.

By the time the dust was gone, I wipe the grin off my face.

When my vision cleared...

I turn with a stoic expression and scan the orthodox warriors.

'Woah, this is how an orthodox duel works. If they all let me have the first offense, I can kick most seniors in the ass. How hilarious. Why would you let others have the upper hand? What...'

I look at Sima Hak with my arms folded with a calm expression.

Sima Clan warriors come running to the fallen Sima Hak, crying "Leader" anxiously.

I reduced my power, but it's actually great that Sima Hak was able to stop my attack.

Of course, I also intentionally widened the distance so that he wouldn't get killed.

It is right to prevent such an obvious attack if the opponent is a leader of a Murim Clan.

Gongsun Wol and other alliance members also approach hurriedly with footwork.

Gongsun Wol says with a bewildered look.

"Leader, don't tell me......."

I stare at General Gongsun.

"Leader Sima is alive and well. A duel is a duel."

All eyes were on Sima Hak.

Sima Hak, who plodded back down when his men tried to help him up, began circulating Qi with his eyes closed. Even during the circulation, his entire body was shaking due to Crescent Moon Ice Technique.

Gongsun Wol sighs and tells me.

"Leader, did you have to...."

"Save it, General. My opponent is a clan leader. Besides, we've never had a fight. It's only natural and right to fight with our all. This is how the game turned out, but no one here can fight poorly against Leader Sima. Am I wrong?"

Gongsun Wol swallows and answers.

"That's right."

Looking at the Sima Clan, I say,

"...I admit that I got riled up during the spar. I managed to save Leader Sima by holding to my wits. Consider him lucky."

I purposely look at the bandits while saying "lucky."

'You're lucky, you assholes.'

The bandits were all looking at me with colorful expressions. In particular, the ignorant Woo Chun held both hands as soon as he made eye contact with me.

'You won!'

Was his expression. The bandits didn't say anything, but I say something to them.

"It was just luck."

Luck my ass....

This is my skill.

I'm a man who holds grudges, so I purposely beckoned the bandits.

"Everyone, come here."

The bandits come running and stop.

I speak to the bandits of Namak Sect in a solemn tone.

"Be courteous to the martial warriors of the orthodox faction. Though I did say you belong to Low-Down Sect, I can't force you to stay. Since many orthodox seniors and juniors gave permission, you can live a new life, so be truly polite."

The bandits voice their thank yous. The bandits' words continue to trigger Sima Hak, who was focused on Qi Circulation.

I interrupt the bandits.

"Shut up."

"Yes, sir."

I sigh and look up at the sky with my hands on my back.

"Jeez, it's not easy to turn over a new leaf and start anew."

It was not for the bandits, but rather for myself. Anyway, I slap myself very lightly and order Jang San.

"Jang San."

"Yes, Leader"

"Take a small box of silver ingots from the loot and hand it over to Sima Clan. It will serve as a treatment fee."

"Understood."

I'm such a generous man. Come to think of it, it was the bandit's money after all. At this time, several Sima Clan people shout at the same time.

"Clan Leader!"

Suddenly, I am startled. An angry-looking Sima Hak was staring at me with his eyes open, but he didn't open his mouth. In other words, he was trembling.

'Wow, this means he has severe internal injuries.'

I speak to Sima Hak with my brows narrowed.

"Leader Sima. Calm down. Of course, you will get Qi Deviation. It was a good match."

At that moment, Sima Hak spat dark red blood with the sound. I know because I've experienced Qi Deviation several times. But at this point, he would have to stick to doing Qi Circulation for at least 10 years to recover from this injury.

I whisper to Jang San next to me.

"What does this make me?"

"I'm sorry, because of us."

"This is all because of you bandits. Do well from now on. Got it?

"Yes."

"They are bandits that were never in my life... Ugh."

I sweep the dust off my clothes like a man and turn around. The flying dust will enter Sima Hak's nostrils (who is currently busy circulating Qi).

I'm such a bad guy.

Oh jeez, seriously. I'm shaking my head.

Editors Notes