abcnovels
Chapter 120
Chapter 120
Chapter 120
Sama Hyeon licked his lips with the tip of his tongue.
He tasted the tang of blood.
The Demon Head before him was on a different level from anyone he had encountered before.
Despite appearances, Sama Hyeon was quite calm.
The man before him didn’t seem like one to make empty threats.
If he said he would break limbs, he would do so, and if he said he would kill his siblings, he would do that too.
‘What a shame~ If only I had more internal energy, I might have stood a chance…’
A life like a maggot. Wow, hooray! Hooray!
He couldn’t help but laugh.
‘As expected, misfortune follows good fortune. The old sayings are never wrong.’At least he knew some characters from performing in operas.
It was obvious that bad things would come after good things happened.
Sama Hyeon mocked himself.
‘Since it’s come to this, I should at least tear off half his face.’
If dying together with the enemy was impossible, doing half of that would be good.
“Old man. Come to think of it… that face of yours looks quite nice. Will you give it to me?”
“It can’t be helped. Since you’re so desperate to die… Well, don’t blame me too much.”
Madness surged from deep within Sama Hyeon’s chest.
‘If I don’t have internal energy, fine. Let’s make the innate true qi go berserk~’
It might hurt a bit, but he thought it would still be a decent way to die.
Sama Hyeon’s danjeon began to churn.
The boy made up his mind to see it through to the end.
At that moment, a voice was heard.
“Hey, mister over there. Take your hands off my patient’s guardian.”
Woof! – Master, it’s difficult to bite this guy’s vital points. He’s strong.
Where Sama Hyeon raised his eyes, Jin Cheon-hee stood.
The Demon Head asked.
“What relationship do you have with this brat?”
At those words, Jin Cheon-hee’s eyes gleamed.
“The relationship of a primary physician and guardian! He hasn’t finished paying his medical bills yet. So hands off.”
Three favors.
At those words, Sama Hyeon couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.
Primary physician and guardian.
Jin Cheon-hee said to Sama Hyeon.
“I don’t know what you’re trying to do right now, but don’t do anything dangerous until you’ve paid up.”
How did he notice?
Was it because of the Zhuge family’s mysterious internal energy? Or maybe that spiritual beast smelled something suspicious.
‘Right. I haven’t paid the medical bills yet.’
Just how long does this doctor intend to keep saving his life?
Sama Hyeon felt an indescribable emotion towards Jin Cheon-hee.
***
For now, he was able to stop Sama Hyeon from making his innate true qi go berserk.
‘Oh, my words worked. Thank goodness.’
From the perspective of Jin Cheon-hee, a modern surgeon, these martial arts folks seemed to throw away their lives too easily.
‘If I hadn’t read the novel, it could have been a disaster.’
There was a description in the novel of the Hao Sect Master’s palms turning red when his innate true qi went berserk.
Normally, it would be difficult to distinguish between redness from the cold and the signs of innate true qi going berserk.
And by the time one could distinguish it, the innate true qi would have already gone berserk, making it too late to save them.
The reason Jin Cheon-hee was able to stop Sama Hyeon was half because he had read the original novel.
The other half was his middle-aged man’s intuition.
Throughout his not-so-short previous life, Jin Cheon-hee had seen countless times how people made situations worse when things went south.
Given the situation, and as he was gradually becoming accustomed to the sensibilities of martial artists as a modern person, he was fortunately able to guess correctly.
‘Even if I was wrong, I threw out a safe comment.’
It’s really fortunate to be able to use social skills at times like this, Jin Cheon-hee thought.
‘Now, I need to look in the novel to see what kind of person this giant in front of me is…’
Thanks to the Profound Origin Divine Technique, Jin Cheon-hee’s thought process was faster and clearer than ever.
Having hands and face as hard as an old tree is quite a distinctive feature.
There should be a description of it somewhere in the novel.
After narrowing down a few suspects based on build and age range, he came to a conclusion.
Jin Cheon-hee narrowed his eyes.
“Those are the characteristics of the Old Tree Demonic Art. Could you be the Old Tree Blood Demon?”
“Tsk tsk. You have quite an eye, child.”
It seems he was correct.
The Old Tree Blood Demon.
He was a villain who appeared in the novel.
In terms of martial arts novel villains, he could be considered a mid-boss level.
Below the main bosses like sect leaders, demon heads, and monsters, he carries out orders but also has his own underlings to command.
If we had to put it in terms, he could be called a middle manager of the martial world.
These mid-boss villains act as the limbs of the final bosses, and I’ve rarely seen one with a good personality.
It’s the woes of middle management.
I remember reading a description that the Old Tree Blood Demon’s martial prowess was at the Transcendent level.
Transcendent level means he has the skills to secure a position as the leader or guardian of a small to medium-sized sect!
‘Why would someone of his caliber come in person for the unglamorous task of capturing a child?’
This was why the Mu-hwa and Mu-wol siblings couldn’t move.
In these Confucian sects, rank is as important as life itself.
And here, “as important as life” literally means as important as one’s physical life.
Still, seeing that there were no other minions around the Old Tree Blood Demon, it seems he had made some cuts at some level.
He had done the most a practical manager could do.
‘I need to watch my words. If I carelessly mention that Mu-hwa and Mu-wol informed me, they might end up with their danjeons destroyed and their limbs’ tendons torn.’
Jin Cheon-hee stroked Hwanggu’s head to signal him.
Woof! – I’ll bark first and think later, Master!
Jin Cheon-hee spoke meaningfully.
“One shouldn’t ignore the information from the Beggars’ Sect.”
“Kekeke, seeing that you’re walking around with a spiritual beast from the Beggars’ Sect, you must be the Little White Dragon. I’ve heard about you.”
Thank you, Hwanggu.
With just one sentence, Jin Cheon-hee had subtly erased any trace of Mu-hwa and Mu-wol.
The Old Tree Blood Demon said,
“I hear you treated this child. As the rumors say, the Little White Dragon doesn’t stand for injustice. However, this is a matter of our sect. Stand down.”
It seems the Old Tree Blood Demon wants to end this amicably if possible.
‘Indeed, a middle manager. He’s making proper comments while trying not to lose face.’
Jin Cheon-hee sensed the Old Tree Blood Demon’s experience.
‘The Old Tree Blood Demon was part of the Hao Sect, right? I remember reading that when the Old Tree Demon Sect, which had split from the Demonic Cult, was on the verge of collapse, they sought refuge with the Hao Sect.’
No wonder Mu-hwa and Mu-wol had a hard time.
‘Is this internal competition within the Hao Sect?’
The Hao Sect could be considered a cartel of various criminal organizations in modern terms.
Excluding the small and medium-sized organizations, it could be roughly divided into five branches, and even within these, competition was fierce.
Among these, the Old Tree Blood Demon clearly belonged to the Assassin Branch, which dealt with assassins, killers, and hitmen.
It was a different branch from the one Mu-hwa and Mu-wol belonged to, which handled brothels, pleasure quarters, and inns.
‘I can hear the sound of Mu-hwa and Mu-wol siblings’ bones creaking.’
Dealing with a high-ranking middle manager from a different faction, one with the title of ‘Blood Demon’ no less, was a stomach-churning affair.
And a middle manager with a nasty personality at that.
“Is this a solo action by the Assassin Branch?”
“Hmm. You seem to know quite a bit about our sect. The Beggars’ Sect… No, your master White Dragon might have taught you this. He’s as cunning and cold-blooded as a snake.”
As expected, the martial world is both wide and narrow.
They’re all aware of each other’s business.
But if someone insulted your master and you remained silent, you weren’t a true martial artist.
Jin Cheon-hee pointed this out as respectfully and firmly as possible.
“Please do not casually insult my master’s name.”
“Kekekekek. Unlike a child, you’re too calm, so I threw a stone… Now your expression has become a bit more fitting.”
Jin Cheon-hee looked at him with a cold expression.
At the same time, he finished his thoughts in one corner of his mind.
‘He noticed from my reaction that I won’t back down.’
In the martial world, insulting someone’s master was tantamount to insulting their parents.
Bringing that up deliberately meant two things.
‘First, it means he’ll fight if I don’t back down.’
Jin Cheon-hee placed his hand on the hilt of the Ice Clarity Sword.
A cold chill ran through Jin Cheon-hee’s palm.
‘Second, it’s an unorthodox sect’s way of warning that someone like me is nothing more than a meal to him.’
Sruung-
Jin Cheon-hee drew the Ice Clarity Sword.
He had changed the handle, changed the blade, and changed the scabbard.
To the eye, it looked no different from an ordinary sword. However, its sound was incomparably clear and crisp.
“Are you saying you’ll stand in my way?”
‘He’s asking again even though he already knows.’
If that’s the case, even the modern person Jin Cheon-hee should make an appropriate comment according to the martial world’s customs.
Aren’t martial artists all about living and dying by appearances?
Even in this situation, Jin Cheon-hee didn’t completely abandon the possibility of dialogue.
But his opponent wasn’t a modern person, but a Blood Demon of the martial world.
“I’m still a nameless, low-ranking child. If the Old Tree Blood Demon has to personally take action, all the martial artists will laugh.”
“Do you think I don’t know that? There are some things that can’t be helped.”
‘He’s saying he’ll act even if it means enduring shame. Damn it all.’
It seems he was ordered to do this by his superiors.
In this case, even Jin Cheon-hee had no answer.
To persuade him, he’d need to persuade the Old Tree Blood Demon’s superiors, but there was no modern communication equipment, and a subordinate has to do what he’s told to do.
Jin Cheon-hee said this:
“Then how about this? I know that you, Blood Demon, are not entirely pleased with this situation either. So, I’ll fight in your stead.”
“You mean you’ll fight as a proxy for that child?”
“Yes. If I lose, do as you wish. But if I win, please withdraw just this once.”
It’s merely giving a plausible expression to something that was going to happen anyway. However, even as a Blood Demon, he probably doesn’t want to forcibly kidnap a nameless, low-ranking child.
The Blood Demon’s expression changed at Jin Cheon-hee’s words.
“Although the name of the Little White Dragon might not be enough to match the name of the Old Tree Blood Demon, it should at least be better than the disgrace of fighting the small child behind me.”
At those words, Sama Hyeon’s eyes widened.
“Brother…!”
Jin Cheon-hee stopped Sama Hyeon, who was trying to rush out with his injured body.
“Trust me.”
“Do you want to die?”
Sama Hyeon shouted.
“Forget it. Just take me! Don’t lay a finger on my brother!”
However, the Old Tree Blood Demon answered.
“I don’t know why a child like you would go to such lengths, but very well. I don’t want such a disgraceful reputation either, so let’s have a match.”
Jin Cheon-hee let out a sigh of relief. Sama Hyeon was still shouting.
“Take me instead!”
Jin Cheon-hee grabbed Sama Hyeon’s shoulder with one hand.
Then he pulled his facial muscles to show a broad smile.
“Do you trust this brother?”
“What…”
“I’m strong. So trust me and wait.”
Jin Cheon-hee did what he does best.
He stroked Sama Hyeon’s head with a voice full of confidence, almost to the point of being annoying.
Sama Hyeon sank down at Jin Cheon-hee’s touch.
Had he decided to trust Jin Cheon-hee? Or had he realized he couldn’t change anything?
“…Don’t die. He’s strong.”
“Alright.”
With those final words, Jin Cheon-hee turned his back on Sama Hyeon and stood.
In the narrow alley.
Two men stood facing each other.
Jin Cheon-hee pointed the Ice Clarity Sword towards him.
‘If Master saw this, he would say his choice was right.’
This is why it’s better to prepare Ten-Thousand Year Cold Iron shackles rather than giving a Ten-Thousand Year Cold Iron sword.
Even if you give them a sword, they’ll end up in a dangerous situation anyway.
The priority is to stop them, that’s the calculation.
Plus, with the Ice Clarity Sword made of Northern Cold Iron, adding a Ten-Thousand Year Cold Iron sword wouldn’t make much difference.
To avoid dying, the top priority is to avoid dangerous situations.
However, Jin Cheon-hee wasn’t the type to not do it just because of that.