Chapter 95
This was just my guess, but the conditions for characters' favor or interest seemed to follow the original novel.
'The Blue-Eyed Princess doesn't appear until the protagonist gets seriously strong.'
Blue-Eyed Princess. A mixed-race princess with blue eyes and snow-white skin inherited from her Caucasian mother. Her exotic look stood out amid the overwhelming majority of yellow-skinned characters in wuxia novels, but that was overshadowed by her killer figure...
'Whoa! The dream perfectly captured every bit of the author's description!'
Her role was crystal clear.
"Hero Kang Moon-soo, your martial prowess was so magnificent it made this girl's heart tremble. Congratulations on your victory."
"Thank you, Princess."
The Blue-Eyed Princess's standards for men, as described in the original novel, weren't much different from Mi-bong's. Personal martial strength. In this brutal world, she openly craved a strong man who could protect her beauty. The only catch was that her father—the emperor with absolute authority—had a huge say in it...
'No problem there.'
The emperor wanted friendly ties with the uncontrollable Heavenly Demon. Turning him into an enemy was too risky, so he preferred binding him through blood ties. And me? The Heavenly Demon's grandson! Just like the protagonist, his disciple, I'd passed the emperor's ideal son-in-law criteria.
"His Majesty has invited you to the imperial banquet."
"It's an honor."
To avoid being dragged off for treason, you had to accept the emperor's invitation without question.
"And this..."
"Thank you."
I snatched it up. A precious sword that would land me in jail for imperial blasphemy if I tried to sell it.
'Where's my prize money?!'
The sword was worth far more, but unsellable junk was no better than scrap metal. Hell, you could at least sell scrap...
I was screwed.
"Hero Kang, I look forward to seeing you again at the imperial banquet."
"Yes, Your Highness."
With a graceful sway, the Blue-Eyed Princess departed, handing me the emperor's gifted sword with both hands.
"Long live the Emperor!"
"Long live! Long live! Long, long live!"
"Woooaaah!"
The Sichuan Greatest Martial Arts Tournament ended amid thunderous applause from the Sichuan people, who cheered under pressure just to stay alive—no one had won any money, leaving everyone miserable.
* * *
My next destination was Mount Hua in Shaanxi Province, where the Heavenly Demon was traveling while indulging in fine food. Home to the Huashan Sect, a staple in countless wuxia novels.
'Info straight from the Demon Dragon himself, so it should be solid.'
Plan was to track down the Heavenly Demon and ask about Mao Zai's whereabouts.
Clink! The fat money pouch lightened my heart. It'd vanish when I woke from the dream, but better than nothing.
"I don't wanna see the Flower Dragon, though..."
Flower Dragon. Top student of the prestigious Huashan Sect and one of the Nine Dragons Five Phoenixes.
I eyed the grumbling Mi-bong beside me.
"Then why'd you tag along?"
"Couldn't help it since you said you were heading to Huashan Sect."
"Same for this old man."
I recalled no gay traits for the Fist King as he hitched a ride.
"Why you, old timer?"
"A martial artist's fate is to follow the strong and seek teachings."
"...Gotta get stronger before your lie gets exposed."
"Ahem!"
Nailed it—the Fist King awkwardly gazed at distant mountains, pretending otherwise.
'...Might not be so bad.'
Why turn down the world's second beauty trailing me? I wasn't a eunuch.
"Sorry..."
I apologized to Song Seon-yeong, who had no clue what I was up to in Mao Zai's dream. This was unavoidable.
"By the way, Young Master Kang."
"Yeah."
"This isn't the road to Huashan Sect."
"Got something to check first."
Mao Zai was alive somewhere in this world. Having read the wuxia novel Is This Heavenly Demon for Real?, would he pass up the treasures and fortuitous encounters? No way.
"Whoa! A cave out here?"
After half a day of wandering, the Fist King sensed an ominous aura at the cave entrance and marveled.
What was this place?
"Squeeee!"
Thwack! The head of a massive centipede bursting from the cave exploded under my kick.
"Spirit beasts are no big deal. Let's grab the inner dan."
I'd figured it'd be tough since the protagonist struggled like hell to hunt it.
Spirit beast. Simple definition? Humans build inner energy, become martial artists. Animals do it, become spirit beasts! Hunt 'em for an inner dan reward—eat it, and your inner energy skyrockets.
"Amazing!"
Mi-bong's eyes sparkled in awe.
"Heh heh..."
"Old timer, quit gawking and extract the inner dan."
"Righto."
The experienced Fist King dissected the centipede without complaint and pulled out the dan.
Twinkle! It gleamed like obsidian, radiant and mystical.
'From memory...'
The protagonist ate this and got 'a bit' stronger, but screamed in agony throughout.
Decision made.
"Miss Mi-bong."
"Yes!"
Her eyes shone with expectation. Quick on the uptake.
"I'll give it to you if you eat it right away in the nearest village. Next one's for you, Fist King."
"Ahem! Who said otherwise?"
The Fist King's sulky old-man face brightened.
"Let's move."
We hit the nearest village for food and lodging, then kicked off Mi-bong's inner dan tasting event.
Blissfully clueless, she gazed at me with lovestruck eyes.
"Thank you, Young Master Kang."
"No biggie."
"I'll repay this kindness forever."
"No need. It's a gift between friends."
"Let me repay it forever!"
"Miss Mi-bong, eat first, then we'll talk."
The protagonist shat blood over this dan—her tune would change.
"Okay."
Gulp.
Mi-bong swallowed the inner dan whole, absorbing the energy with a serene face.
"Huh?"
"Young Hero Kang, why the surprised look?"
"Too easy."
The Fist King smugly shared his wisdom like it was obvious.
"It was packed with yin energy. Nothing for a natural yin woman like Mi-bong. A man would've suffered."
"Got it."
Protagonist must've greedily pushed through the pain. Made sense why the Fist King yielded it so easily—too yin-heavy.
"Whoa! Even bone changing rebirth?"
"Really?"
"Look—her hair and teeth are falling out and regrowing."
"Yep."
Bone changing rebirth. Replacing old bones and skin to optimize the body for martial arts. Settings vary by novel, but it multiplies strength overnight.
What about Is This Heavenly Demon for Real?? The drugged-up author added love and friendship as conditions.
"Young Master Kang!"
Flash! Mi-bong absorbed it effortlessly, opened her eyes, and beamed straight at me.
"How's your body feel?"
"Hot. With my love for you burning inside..."
"Ah, yeah."
The Fist King beamed proudly at his strengthened junior.
"Well done. You've finally grasped the principles of yin and yang."
"Yes!"
"And even more beautiful now."
"Oh my!"
Her skin had been fair, but now it was baby-soft post-rebirth. More mature vibe too, with subtle body corrections from the bone shift.
"Hmm..."
Intriguing.
'Could I pull off bone changing rebirth like her? And if so, how much would carry over to reality?'
Before meeting Mao Zai and convincing him, time for a test run.
* * *
Our journey to Huashan Sect went smoothly. I'd hoped Mao Zai snagged the treasures first for dead ends, but Mi-bong and the Fist King kept squealing in delight!
Eventually, "Kid, who are you?"
"Haha! Kid? For real! Your voice! Your hands and feet...!"
The Fist King hit bone changing rebirth's next stage: return to youth, turning into a child.
Return to youth. Not content with new bones and skin, some martial artists revert to youth. Boosts prime strength and lifespan massively—every martial artist dreams of it, but few achieve it.
"Congrats, old timer."
"Thanks! I'll repay this before I die!"
"Sure."
"Wanna spar after so long?"
Rejuvenated, the Fist King's speech turned boyish, brimming with vigor.
"Fine by me."
"Young Hero Kang, don't think of me as the old Fist King."
"Got it."
"Here goes... Hyah!"
The kid Fist King charged, crossing his shortened legs furiously.
'Oh?'
His movements were faster than his stumpy legs suggested.
But, "Guh—urk?!"
Crack! My raised sole kissed his face, sending the kid tumbling.
"Old timer, aren't you a bit too young now?"
"Grr! Infuriating!"
"Bones are tougher, though. Recovery's quick too."
Like watching a kid skin his knee tumbling, then pop right up unfazed.
Crunch. His broken nose reset instantly as he dusted off the dirt.
"You're the only one in the world who can treat this old man like a kid."
"That's why you hate it?"
"Nah."
We stopped at a clothing shop for the pint-sized Fist King, delaying us till full dark before reaching Huashan Sect.
"Too bad it's dark. I hate the Flower Dragon, but Huashan's plum blossom views are always stunning."
"Heh~"
We climbed the pitch-black mountain path effortlessly. Compared to that lightless cave, the moonlit outdoors felt bright.
'I've come a long way.'
Groping through caves with a staff felt like yesterday. Inner energy was handy.
"This is Huashan Sect ahead. What brings you at this hour?"
Huashan Sect. Rooted in Taoism, formed by Taoists seeking Mount Hua's spiritual energy. Plum blossoms embroidered on their robes were the signature.
"Here to see the sect leader."
"Who might you be?"
"The Fist King who pacified the bandits with one fist! Fetch your sect leader!"
"Fist King...?"
"That's right!"
The martial artist guarding the main gate stared down at the Fist King and burst out laughing.
"Haha! Kid, where are your parents?"
"Who you callin' kid!"
Before the obvious kid could blow up, Mi-bong stepped in.
"I'm Mi-bong of the Nine Dragons Five Phoenixes. Gonna doubt me too?"
"Gasp! N-no, ma'am!"
The martial artist gawked at her emerging from the shadows, hastily stepping aside to open the gate. The Central Plains' second beauty was her ID—no questions asked. Worth bringing along.
'Better than kid Fist King, huh?'
The Fist King, once a preemptive ID against trouble, was now useless.
"How'd this happen to me..."
"Can't help it when you turned kid overnight."
"Wait a few days. Once word of my return to youth spreads, the martial world will flip."
"Shocking, yeah. The Fist King weaker with shorter limbs..."
"You're weird! And don't say it like I was weak before!"
"You were."
"No!"
The kid Fist King acted like a brat right down to his brain.
Chatting idly with him, we reached the sect's central antique hall.
Creeeak—a middle-aged woman, probably a servant, opened the door from outside.
"You first."
"Why? You should lead, old timer."
"I gotta talk to the sect leader alone. It's a thing."
"...Fine."
Another room inside the hall.
"Who comes at this hour?"
A deep male voice echoed from within.
Who indeed? A philosophical question.
"I'm Kang Moon-soo, Sichuan's Greatest Demon. Came all the way to Huashan Sect searching for my grandfather."
"Your grandfather's name...?"
"Heavenly Demon."
"......"
"Demon Dragon said he's here."
"...More dangerous guests. Open the door and let them in."
"Thank you!"
Slide—
Time to meet the world's strongest.