Chapter 508

It was Qing’s own take on the balance of power.

A Life and Death Match against an opponent who’s a Supreme Martial Artist?

Even a one-on-one match can hardly be a proper Life and Death Match anymore.

This wasn’t arrogance; it was simply an objective reflection of my own level, understood through countless experiences.

It’s often said that there is no high or low in martial arts. No matter what martial art you learn, if you dive deep into it, the destination is the peak—the completion of Great Master Muhak.

Just like all rivers eventually flow into the sea, all martial paths converge. That saying about “returning to the source” echoes that truth.

But is that really the case?

No, that’s utterly ridiculous.

If a rusty iron sword with missing teeth were to clash with a sharpened Divine Sword, do we really need to guess the outcome?

The very claim that there is no high or low in martial arts suggests that those who spout such nonsense lack the qualifications to do so.

Does someone skilled in Divine Skill say something like that?

That guy’s just bragging because he practiced Divine Skill.

What about someone who’s only learned a third-rate martial art?

That dude wouldn’t even know the difference, having never even laid hands on Divine Skill.

And if a third-rate martial artist who, despite being renowned as a high-level master, were to say that—it would seem credible.

But humans are vile and cunning. Thoughts like “Well, that might be true for those with talent!” creep in.

Thus, Divine Skill is the quickest path to completion.

It can turn an ordinary person into a prodigy, a prodigy into a genius, and a genius into an immortal.

How many Divine Skills does Qing even possess?

If it’s not surrounded by a purple border, it’s not Divine Skill; if it has a gold border, it’s barely worth learning.

There’s also the ignorance of my Inner Strength.

The Qi Meridians sharpened with recent hindsight are so powerful that they could literally turn the tables.

Plus, with the overwhelming strength of the greatest master of all time added in, it’s truly a match made in heaven—a dragon that breathes fire.

In other words, I’m like a fire-breathing elephant.

Who in the world could take on such a monster?

So even facing a Supreme Martial Artist in a one-on-one Life and Death Match, there’s really nothing for Qing to gain.

Even if two of them were left after taking one down, it wouldn’t really be a tough choice.

So it has to be three.

Three should definitely present a considerable challenge.

And against the Realm of Transformation one-on-one, honestly, I’m a bit jittery.

But if I endure that much, I might just be able to touch the Realm beyond the Supreme Martial path.

Honestly, I thought there’d be no rivals in the Martial World for me at this level, but Unyeonjeong—after all, it says the world destroyer is rampaging around!

If they’re the final boss, shouldn’t they be waiting quietly in a meeting room for challengers to come?

It doesn’t seem logical for them to wander around alone and run into me—twice, no less!

Of course, Unyeonjeong might feel wronged.

Can’t I wander around too?

And if I went to see someone who claimed to impersonate me, that doesn’t count as a coincidence.

But Qing is definitely the one at a disadvantage here.

The way the world is run shouldn’t be like this.

And I’m in a bind.

I need strength.

First, let’s target the Realm of Transformation, then circle back around the Jeolgeumbyeok, finish up with the Docks of the Seven Stars, and maybe even catch a glimpse of the current realm!

I can’t let the Entrance to Demon slip away.

Even brushing past the thought that a mere level of mastery isn’t worthy of a warrior if you ignore the basic requirements, I still need to reach the current realm where opportunities may arise.

If I slip into the Entrance to Demon, honestly, given my level, going beyond the demon level might be pushing it.

And then, I need to stop by Hangzhou and ask about the Jiangshi at the Martial Alliance.

Doesn’t Unyeonjeong know a bit too much about Jiangshi?

No matter how much of a Jiangshi’s daughter they are, how could they understand the heart of one of them?

Wow, does she really know well? Is she a Jiangshi?

Of course, I doubt she’ll have proper information.

Jiangshi techniques are a vision of the Jiang family.

Asking the Tang Family about poisons at the Martial Alliance is like a joke.

Even so, if we’re on the same side, shouldn’t she offer some advice?

While Qing was lost in thought, the warriors were bustling about, unable to recover from the declaration of “If you’re brave enough, come at me!”

“Three Supreme Martial Artists? One-on-one in the Realm of Transformation?”

“No way, what nonsense is that?”

The listening warriors were simply dumbfounded.

If multiple people gang up on one, that’s an underhanded move! And if a master brutally beats down a weaker one, isn’t that just despicable?

And under the strict laws of the Central Plain, the term “underhanded” means you have a free pass to take revenge.

What happens afterward when someone employs such a tactic?

Forget about revenge from the Best Female Martial Artist!

An enraged Martial Alliance would declare martial law and immediately issue a kill order on sight.

And then, flood in with an army and talk about what?

They’re already lining guards behind them—what kind of Life and Death Match is that?

In the heat of battle, they could just jump in, and if they win, artillery would rain down in revenge, right?

Unfortunately, to Qing, this level of duel seemed fair, but to the others, it was a total joke.

Therefore, no one dared to request a Life and Death Match, just waiting until Qing snapped out of his deep thoughts.

What’s going on? Are they not coming at me?

Then? I guess I should go.

“It seems no one wants to challenge me. Then, I shall take my leave. General, shall we go now?”

“Hmm. To the horses!”

The warriors were once again left in disbelief.

Wait, didn’t you just happen to be on the same path as us?

What do you mean by ‘shall we go’? Isn’t that straightforward accomplice talk!

As the banner waved and the army confidently approached the city gate, the warriors blocking the way spread out left and right to clear a path.

Absurdity aside, they didn’t want to touch a moving trap that could lead to dire consequences.

Suddenly, within that parted crowd, one warrior assumed a striking pose.

Familiar face—Dukgo-geom, or rather, Jongjeong-pil now.

Wida-myung greeted him warmly.

“Hey, Jongjeong, when did you get here?”

“Since the very beginning.”

“No way, if you’ve arrived, you should at least say hello. How can a younger brother ignore an older brother? Jongjeong, you need to take life more seriously. Even if they’re not family, you should greet those you know and ask how they are. Ultimately, all that remains is the connections we make. So you too, try dating a bit, what’s with someone of your age still being single?”

“Hmm.”

Jongjeong-pil, who was trying to keep the mood with a flat expression.

But Qing didn’t miss the slight tremor in the corners of Jongjeong-pil’s eyes.

“Humans can’t live alone. You need a partner, a place to return to, and a family for martial arts to truly flourish. If you go around acting all taciturn, looking like you don’t care, well, yes, right now. Instead of that, let me set something up next month. First, you have to meet a woman, whether for love or just for a fling, you need to let something blossom.”

A torrent of nagging spilled out.

Uh-oh, was that the same man who’d been courteous to me just moments ago? Now he’s like some neighborhood auntie, meddling non-stop?

Of course, there are people like that.

Someone who’s polite and handsome when you meet but reveals themselves to be a nagging advisor once you grow closer.

“Look here, your clothes, when on earth did you get those? If I remember right, I saw you last year in the same outfit at the concert! Look, no matter how much you say inner strength outweighs outward appearance, that’s not quite true. If all else is equal, a pretty dish garnished nicely is far more appealing, don’t you think? You should be presenting yourself well if you want someone to pay attention.”

As Qing understood why Jongjeong-pil had opted not to greet Wida-myung, he felt a tad sorry for him.

If it were me, I’d probably want to be invisible too.

Perhaps the Great Hero, who’s famous in every circle, is someone who just doesn’t get acknowledged anywhere.

Qing’s sympathetic gaze grew softer.

Noticing it, Jongjeong-pil returned his gaze with a usual blank expression; there was a hint of connection or perhaps an unspoken plea intertwined in his look.

“Ahem. Wida-myung, while I appreciate your warmth toward my little brother, I’m sure Jongjeong has business with me and wouldn’t linger unnecessarily?”

“Oh right. I seemed to have gotten a bit carried away there. Little brother, let’s catch up later! No, let’s have dinner together soon. Just know that all this is out of concern for you, so don’t brush my advice aside.”

Wida-myung’s ending remarks were flawlessly delivered.

Once Jongjeong-pil was freed from that exchange, he gave Qing a slight nod in thanks.

He opened his mouth but hesitated for a moment.

And then, he looked at Qing with an oddly yearning expression.

“Honestly, I came to ask the Heavenly Demon Sword about the intentions behind the notion of society for all people.”

Qing tilted his head.

What’s this ‘society for all people’?

All people practicing together?

“In that case, I wish to discuss the Universal Will of the World through the communal ownership of martial arts, how that might lead to the development and ultimately the completion of the Great Master community, can you accompany me for a serious conversation?”

Why is this dude blushing for real?

And still, he looks kinda heartbroken.

Seems like he’s avoiding dinner.

As Qing pondered over what to do, he thought maybe he should put a stop to this before something real crazy came to exist.

After all, this might be a seed I planted, so I should manage it.

“Sure, let’s do that.”

To that, Jongjeong-pil nodded with gratitude and stepped forward, taking his place beside Qing.

The problem was that Qing was riding a striking white horse while Jongjeong-pil’s plain-looking horse swayed alongside.

Naturally, Jongjeong-pil appeared more like a servant leading the horse than a companion.

—-

Qing had subdued the Heavenly Demon Soul, the spirit of the first Heavenly Demon, and could summon it at will.

This was Qing’s secret skill unseen by his friends, a trick up his sleeve he called the Summon of the Heavenly Demon.

For reference, the last time he had showcased it to Seomun Sulin, it ended up backfiring hard, so he hadn’t used it to stir up any fun at parties.

And Wang Sang-ryong had a similar summoning technique as Deputy Commander.

This was called Official Summon!

But that could be regarded as a far more sophisticated skill than Qing’s Heavenly Demon summon.

While Qing had to call upon it himself, Deputy Commander merely had to be near for it to activate, and obedient officials would come bearing gifts.

It was reminiscent of Qing’s lineage—the old community game and long-forgotten games in the digital realm, where miners would gather materials.

So, upon arriving at the military’s local station in the city, a jolly fellow greeted them warmly.

“Oh, sir Deputy Commander! We’re so thrilled that you decided to swing by! It’s quite the boon for our nation to have your capable leadership during tumultuous times!”

A loyal and competent General holds more power just by existing, making it impossible for the enemy to approach; he is a blessing for the nation.

What the jolly fellow was saying meant just that.

“Ahem.”

Wang Sang-ryong cleared his throat.

Under normal circumstances, he would laugh heartily and boast, “Yeah, I’m the General!” but now, he felt a bit uneasy about the situation.

Honestly, with Mama right there, what kind of statement is he making?

The jolly fellow’s eyes gleamed with apprehension.

What’s that? Did I mess up somehow?

For reference, the Landlord was a bigwig ruling over a major city and its surrounding areas.

Of course, compared to the Commander overlooking all of Shandong Province, he was close to being commoner trash.

So there was no choice but to tread carefully.

“Wow! Our General is so respected! Truly, your troops must be brilliant, I knew you were capable.”

Wang Sang-ryong’s expression brightened like the sun.

“Oh no, what are you saying, just too kind.”

Given the presence of someone who looked like a beggar (Jongjeong-pil), Wang Sang-ryong barely held back the formalities he wanted to automatically spit out.

The landlord was quick to catch on to this delicate situation.

Despite being considered a lowly beggar compared to the Deputy Commander, he could boast that his ancestor was a landlord, making his family a well-respected one.

And given that they were a high-ranking official in the current Imperial Family, by default, they were able to read the room and understand the hierarchical dynamics naturally.

That was the magic of being an official!

“Ha-ha, how tiresome you must be after all your travels! Please allow me to pour you a few drinks to ease your fatigue, and do join us, so you can grace our table!”

Although the main focus was Wang Sang-ryong, Qing somehow felt addressed personally.

That was the power of being an official!

Equipped with mysterious abilities befitting neither normal logic nor modern science!

For example, the non-directive communication of intentions, existing on paper while lacking a corporeal form yet still receiving their salaries, absolving sins of those who commit wrongs, and possessing wealth that seems to spontaneously emerge from nowhere, etc.

“Ahem, serving drinks during an operation—”

Gulp. Qing swallowed thickly.

“Oh, I’m parched! A man’s thirst can’t possibly be satisfied with mere water! Landlord, I’m grateful to accept!”

The General suddenly found himself extraordinarily thirsty.

The sound of him swallowing was barely audible.

Though small and weak, this was enormous for Wang Sang-ryong.

That’s what you call the power of being an official.

Wang Sang-ryong would likely remember this conversation for a long time.

Mama sure loves her drinks—that’s key.

And thus, Liu Bang’s temporary stay began.

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