How Did You Know That?
Qinghai Province was one of the largest provinces on the continent.
Everything about it was vast, including the biggest lake, Qinghai Lake.
There were also impossibly tall mountain ranges like Kunlun and Tanggula.
Naturally, it was freezing and barren.
Gale winds and sandstorms came as a bonus.
In short, Qinghai was a huge chunk of land with absolutely nothing worth having—a total backwater.
It was baffling how various ethnic groups like the Han, Qiang, and Tuyuhun managed to survive there.
With so many peoples living together, bloodlines naturally mixed, giving rise to unique beauties unlike those of the Central Plains.
The scene Paeng Gang-hwi had witnessed earlier flashed through his mind like a lantern show.
Exotic beauties shrieking with delight as they mobbed the young Taoist boy.
'Kyaaah!'
'Jade Dragon! See you tomorrow!'
And he had been there too! Yet some gigolo-like punk was stealing all the attention!
How could these women not recognize a real man?!
His teeth should have ground together with a crunch—but he couldn't even do that.
He was already biting down hard to endure the pain, getting beaten like a dog.
It was so brutal he could practically see his life flashing before his eyes.
Thwack! Thud! Crack!
"Argh! Ack! Guh!"
Even amid the onslaught, he couldn't comprehend it.
He, a direct descendant of the Hebei Paeng Clan, the Paeryong among the Nine Dragons Eight Phoenixes, getting unilaterally thrashed by some no-name kid!
'Ah. Not exactly no-name. He has that fancy title, Jade Dragon.'
It offered zero comfort.
If anything, it made him feel even more pathetic.
"Raaagh!"
With a scream-like kiai, he summoned his qi.
First star, second star, third star—the inner energy dormant in his dantian surged forth.
As Paeng Gang-hwi suddenly tapped into his inner power, Heo Cheong cried out in alarm.
"No inner arts!"
Fortunately, Paeng Gang-hwi hadn't lost all reason.
"Just three stars! No more, no less—exactly three! Kid! You use all ten!"
"Ten stars? What nonsense is that? Jeong Gwang! Absolutely do not—"
"Master. I'll use exactly three too."
"Three? No way! You trying to kill my friend's nephew?"
"Then two?"
"I said no!"
The spar halted amid the master-disciple squabble. Paeng clan's uncle and nephew trembled as they watched, fuming.
'How dare they ignore me?'
'Just how strong is he?'
It was already obvious from what they'd seen: Jeong Gwang was ridiculously powerful. And now his inner arts matched his forms?
'Ridiculous. Impossible.'
'His forms might be genius-level, but at that age, how much inner power could he possibly have?'
Ignoring their thoughts, the arguing pair compromised on using just one star of inner power.
Paeng Gang-hwi, predictably, exploded in rage.
"One star? I'm using three, and you're using one?"
"Yeah... even one's a bit much."
"Shut up and take this!"
Paeng Gang-hwi's movements shifted.
His lower body churned ceaselessly, unleashing a storm of kicks.
So fierce was the power that Jeong Gwang's hair whipped in the wind.
"Ah, feels refreshing."
Jeong Gwang savored the breeze, stepping gracefully with basic footwork even a snot-nosed mountain village kid would know: the Three Talents Stance.
"Not Chain Tyrant King Fist? What is it then?"
"Iron Blood One Hundred and Forty-Eight Legs!"
"Straightforward name. Kicking with grit a hundred forty-eight times? Gonna take a while."
"I'll end it quick!"
"Why didn't you announce the technique name before starting, though?"
"...Sh-Shut up! Eat this! Hiyaa! Hiyaa!"
Irritation flickered in Jeong Gwang's eyes.
Heo Cheong, spotting it, grew urgent and sent a transmission.
—Go easy! Please, just go easy!
—Break both leg bones?
—Gasp! N-No! Not the bones!
—You heard a crack right at the start. That was a rib.
Even the skeptical Heo Cheong now believed.
That initial crack at the bout's start? A bone breaking.
'Whoa. Must hurt like hell, yet he keeps charging. They say the Hebei Paeng are true warriors—no exaggeration.'
He shook his head vigorously.
What good was admiration now?
The warrior was already getting pummeled like a mutt—and about to get more.
Meanwhile, Paeng Su-won, watching stone-faced, grew anxious.
'Doesn't look good. Time to stop this.'
He bellowed with infused qi.
"Enough!"
His resonant shout echoed through the arena.
But,
"Hiyaa! Die! Hiyaa!"
"One Hundred and Forty-Eight Legs, right? Hundred left."
"J-Jeong Gwang! Please, go easy!"
No one paid heed.
Paeng Su-won's face flushed as he gathered more qi to shout again—
"Ah, annoying. Bye."
"What?"
Boom!
With a drum-like thunder, Paeng Gang-hwi soared away.
"No!"
Paeng Su-won dashed forward, catching him before he hit the ground. He couldn't even scream.
"Gang-hwi! You okay? Gang-hwi!"
The briefly unconscious youth barely opened his eyes.
"U-Uncle..."
"Yes. Any serious injuries? I'll help—start qi circulation and breath regulation now..."
"Tired..."
"...What?"
"Gonna sleep now..."
What bombshell was this?!
Paeng Su-won envisioned the furious clan head.
"No, Gang-hwi! Open your eyes, you rascal! I can't send you back like th—"
"Zzz..."
"..."
He was really asleep.
Paeng Su-won checked his pulse to confirm. Yep, out cold.
He slowly raised his head, staring ahead.
Jeong Gwang was brushing dirt off his robes and met his gaze.
"What?"
"...How did you do it? Why is Gang-hwi asleep? Explain."
Jeong Gwang opened his mouth, then paused.
Too tedious to say: Your nephew went berserk, qi stagnated in his chest, so I used inner family heavy hand to clear it perfectly, leaving him blissfully relaxed into dreamland.
Besides, it wasn't kindness—he just got annoyed and ended it quick by targeting that spot.
His succinct answer:
"Must've been exhausted."
* * *
Paeng Gang-hwi sought Jeong Gwang the moment he woke.
"Little brother! Little brother!"
"Gang-hwi! You're conscious?"
"Ah, Uncle. Where's that young Taoist?"
"Worry about yourself first. Seems no major issues—how do you feel?"
Paeng Gang-hwi sat cross-legged, circulating his qi.
No anomalies.
"Fine. Actually, refreshed—fatigue's gone."
"Good. You woke after just a day. Be more careful next time. This incident alone..."
Uncle's lecture dragged on, but Paeng Gang-hwi's mind was fixed on Jeong Gwang.
'No coincidence.'
He recalled Jeong Gwang's gaze before the final blow.
'Right on the chest stagnation point.'
His hot-tempered nature often caused qi blockages there in rage—and it happened again.
A first-time acquaintance spotted and resolved it precisely.
'How? Why?'
Was he truly the era's top genius?
If so, maybe the rumors of reforming Kunlun's arts weren't lies.
Deep in thought, Paeng Su-won's nagging hit a sore spot.
"...Gang-hwi. Plenty inside and out want to drag you down. Need to be more cautious, no?"
Paeng Gang-hwi bit his lip.
As the clan head's illegitimate son, smear campaigns abounded—as Uncle said.
Partly his own poor conduct, but stakes were high as heir to one of Murim's Seven Great Clans, Hebei Paeng.
'Brother...'
Most backed the legitimate eldest, Paeng Gang-ung—flawless in martial arts, scholarship, character.
Paeng Gang-hwi had no real allies.
Uncle here was the closest, but even him he couldn't fully trust.
If word spread of his qi issue, it'd fuel attacks on his temperament.
So he'd hidden it...
'Jeong Gwang!'
He needed to meet that boy.
"Uncle, right now—"
He trailed off.
Seeing the worry in Uncle's eyes shamed him.
Needlessly picking a fight with a much younger kid—and getting wrecked. How could he show his face?
He bowed sincerely to Paeng Su-won.
"Sorry, Uncle. I'll be careful from now on."
"...Hoo. That's it. Seeing you like this makes me happy."
"My apologies. Mind if I step out for air?"
"Haha. I must greet Kunlun's elders anyway. Let's go."
They exited and parted ways.
"Be careful."
"Don't worry. I will."
"Haha. Good. I trust you."
Paeng Su-won beamed inwardly.
His usually frivolous nephew maturing? Worth the trip.
'Must thank Heo Cheong. And...'
That mysterious young Taoist, Jeong Gwang.
'Alright.'
Paeng Su-won resolved: Confirm one more thing, and if it checked out, back Kunlun fully.
As he strode off briskly, Paeng Gang-hwi moved too.
'Will he be there again today?'
Reaching the training ground from their first encounter, a cheerful voice rang from beyond the wall.
"Customer's here, so that's it for today."
"Woooaaah!"
A roar followed, unveiling the familiar scene.
"Hah! Cloud Dragon Endless!"
"Infinite blessings. Dragon Soars Nine Heavens!"
"Uratcha! Heaven Dragon Shakes Scales!"
Haggard old Taoists unleashed Cloud Dragon Great Eight Forms, fleeing like their lives depended on it.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Middle-aged Taoists, barely able to speak, bolted with mad lightness skill.
Jeong Gwang emerged amid the collapsed young Taoists, like corpses.
"L-Little brother! I must speak to y—guhk!"
In haste, Paeng Gang-hwi rushed forward—only to get repelled by the Jade Dragon Protection Squad again.
"Kyaaah!"
"Jade Dragon!"
Scrambling up to push through the women, he froze under piercing killing intent from all sides.
"What is this? Line up!"
"Some bandit-lookin' creep eyeing Jade Dragon?"
"N-No, it's not—"
"Back off! Don't ruin the vibe!"
"Tsk tsk. Even muddying water has limits."
Paeng Gang-hwi slunk away, shoulders slumped.
A battle-hardened veteran, yet never so cowed.
By ordinary powerless women, no less.
'Th-They're different.'
Not martial prowess.
Their presence.
Slumping nearby, he hugged his knees, oddly melancholic.
Jeong Gwang glanced, clicking his tongue inwardly.
'Tsk tsk. What a downer. What's his deal?'
The privileged never grasp the less fortunate's heart. After ages escaping the squad, Jeong Gwang walked past without a glance.
"L-Little brother!"
Me?
"W-Wait a moment. I have words."
No thanks.
Ignoring him, Paeng Gang-hwi blocked his path.
Jeong Gwang's brow twitched.
This punk need more?
Time to beat him proper.
Let's see—fold his spine backward so he can't even twitch...
"I want to get close to you."
"...Pardon?"
"I said I want to be close to you. Hate the idea?"
As if.
Even pounding Paeng Gang-hwi earlier used no high arts; now Jeong Gwang unleashed Flying Dragon Chases Lightning, retreating like thunder.
"Why? I'm purely—"
As the frantic Paeng pursued, Jeong Gwang warned coldly, laced with killing intent.
"Come closer, you die."
"Kuhk!"
Paeng Gang-hwi shuddered.
The chilling intent choked his breath.
'Incredible killing aura. Like the demonic cult tales...'
He shook his head, startled.
'Demonic cult? Ridiculous suspicion for a Kunlun disciple.'
Sincerely apologetic, he pressed on.
"Ugh... I want to be your friend. Can't we?"
The intent vanished like mist.
"Oh. That?"
"...?"
"Still no."
"Wh-Why?"
"You know."
"...?"
Jeong Gwang resumed walking.
Paeng Gang-hwi hurried after.
"Why?"
"Just want to be friends. Why refuse?"
"Whatever. What do you really want?"
"...What'd you say?"
"Friends my ass. You're after something. Spill it. Hmm. Obvious anyway."
Paeng Gang-hwi felt slapped.
'After something? Yeah.'
He'd sought friendship to exploit a younger boy.
One who'd thrashed him and ignored him since.
'Haha. Pathetic. Worthless.'
His life replayed.
He'd cursed critics, but weren't they right?
Staring blankly, Jeong Gwang grumbled.
"I paved the way, and now you clam up. Don't bother me anymore—"
"Sorry. Won't bother you."
"...Huh?"
"Farewell. Rest well."
Paeng Gang-hwi walked away forlornly.
Jeong Gwang stared, baffled, then went his way.
Soon, annoyance boiled.
What a quitter.
A man draws his blade? Slice his own flesh if needed—what was that?
He finally yelled after Paeng Gang-hwi.
"Curious how I knew about your chest qi stagnation and cleared it, right?"
Paeng Gang-hwi halted abruptly.
"How did you know that?"
His turned eyes gaped wide.