Jade Qilin
“Join Sima Lian. You’d fit right in better than with the orthodox sects.”
Jeong Gwang scowled at Hu Wei-jin’s words.
“Hmm. Kinda feels that way, yeah.”
“Think it over again. You… What? You’re serious?”
“It’s the truth.”
Hu Wei-jin was dumbfounded.
Impossible! Just like that?
But Jeong Gwang wasn’t some easy mark.
“Still, I don’t wanna.”
“……Why not?”
Jeong Gwang couldn’t believe it.
Why ask something so obvious?
It was annoying, but he figured he’d have to spell it out to shake the guy off.
“You’re in-betweeners.”
The orthodox sects trained body and mind for justice.
The unorthodox pursued profit by any means necessary.
The demonic cults worshipped power and acted on whims with it.
Having stood at the demonic cult’s peak in his past life and now embedded in the orthodox world, Jeong Gwang had no interest whatsoever in dipping into the wishy-washy unorthodox scene. Two sides were plenty.
Oblivious to his thoughts, Hu Wei-jin flashed a sly grin.
“In-between? You call us petty villains chasing profit without honor, but aren’t you lot the same? Hypocrites pretending to be upright while coveting wealth and power from the shadows—what’s so different?”
“That’s what I’m saying. Why don’t you get it?”
“Shut your mouth! You’re just another hypocrite… Wait. What did you just say?”
“Didn’t hear? I said you’re right. Oh, except Kunlun. We’re dirt poor for real.”
“……Yeah, I’ve heard Kunlun’s like that.”
“Sigh. No lay disciples, no businesses. Wouldn’t even touch money-lending, and they don’t have the capital anyway.”
Before he knew it, the mockery in Hu Wei-jin’s eyes had vanished, replaced by burning fervor.
I came to the right place. This kid—this is the real deal from earlier today.
He recalled Jeong Gwang blasting away the Shaanxi Four Divisions.
Left Enforcer, Inspectorate, Capital Command—the sons of those big shots. I had to watch my step even if I hated their guts.
But Jeong Gwang had taken them down without hesitation. They hadn’t died, but they’d be bedridden for at least a year or two.
He didn’t know who they were at the time, but even after finding out, he owned it.
And framing Huashan and Zhongnan to boot!
It was a fresh shock to him.
The world was vast, full of people—and even the orthodox sects had talent.
I need someone truly mine, not the master’s pick. Snag a famed orthodox disciple, and my reputation skyrockets.
Honor meant loyalty you could trust.
Quick to act with hands before words—perfect for the unorthodox.
Gutsy and cunning to boot; he’d excel at any task!
A smile crept across Hu Wei-jin’s face.
“See? You’re one of us.”
“Told you, no thanks.”
“Why!”
“You’re in-betweeners. Gonna keep being a pain?”
Killing intent surged from Hu Wei-jin’s entire body.
“I asked twice, and you dare refuse?”
He was the type to destroy what he couldn’t have.
“Guess I’ll have to teach you a lesson.”
“I’ll cure your sickness too.”
“……Sickness? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Dunno if it’ll work. Anyway, let’s find somewhere quiet. Wake the elders, and… ugh, they’ll grill me again.”
“Hmph. Fine, have it your way.”
They arrived at a small hillock and faced off.
“Draw your sword.”
“You first?”
Hu Wei-jin raised his fists with a grin.
“Real men use fists.”
“Hm. Worse than I thought.”
“What’re you on about?”
“You wouldn’t admit it anyway. That’s how it is with your kind. Fine, bare hands it is.”
“Don’t overdo it. You’ll regret… Hup!”
Jeong Gwang unleashed Flying Dragon Chasing Lightning, closing in to strike with Immortal Cloud Flying Thunder Palm. Hu Wei-jin, caught off-guard, thrust out his palm instead of dodging.
Bam!
“Kuh!”
Jeong Gwang praised him as he stepped back a pace.
“Not bad.”
“Damn! Even off-guard, to push me back! You little shit—did you pull some rejuvenation trick?”
Nope. Reincarnated.
But he couldn’t say that, so Jeong Gwang kept pressing with limbs flying.
“Hah! You’re no slouch yourself!”
Hu Wei-jin’s eyes gleamed as he blocked, countering viciously even on the defensive. Excellent responses.
Jeong Gwang whistled inwardly.
This guy’s good for his age. Way better than Paeng Gang-hwi, one of the Nine Dragons Eight Phoenixes.
Paeng Gang-hwi had surged thanks to Jeong Gwang and grown more over the years, but still no match for Hu Wei-jin.
Above all, that unyielding fighting spirit! Rare to see someone battle like this.
Even stingy-with-praise Jeong Gwang couldn’t help but compliment again.
“Unorthodox life ain’t for you. Would’ve been perfect born in the demonic cult.”
“Ridiculous! How could anyone survive among those vicious bastards?”
What?
A vein bulged on Jeong Gwang’s forehead.
They’re not that vicious!
Sure, some went beyond imagination, but there were decent ones too!
Strength poured into Jeong Gwang’s strikes.
Hu Wei-jin’s defenses grew frantic.
“You bastard! Holding back, huh!”
“Want more?”
“Ha! Big talk! Hup!”
Now Jeong Gwang’s moves blurred beyond sight.
Retreating wildly, Hu Wei-jin slipped hands into his sleeves and out—two gleaming daggers flashing through the air.
“Huh? Fists for men, you said?”
“Men wield daggers too!”
Hu Wei-jin charged bravely to prove his manhood.
But Jeong Gwang was already behind him.
Crack!
“Gahk!”
Punched in the back of the head, Hu Wei-jin’s vision swam.
Get it together! I’ll die!
He barely clung to consciousness, but Jeong Gwang’s fist loomed larger.
Without pause, Hu Wei-jin rolled on the ground in Lazy Donkey Roll.
An orthodox martial artist there would’ve called it shameless. But Hu Wei-jin was a fine unorthodox man who knew no shame, and Jeong Gwang gleefully stomped away like it was a gift from heaven.
Thud! Smack! Bam!
“Ack! Argh! Urk!”
Tumbling under Jeong Gwang’s kicks, Hu Wei-jin hunted for an opening.
A gap! There’s gotta be one!
No warrior or art was flawless.
But at his level, he couldn’t spot a needle’s width in Jeong Gwang.
Damn it! Is this the end?
Suddenly, Jeong Gwang’s weakness flashed in his mind.
Ah! He hates beans!
His final thought.
Boom!
* * *
When Hu Wei-jin came to, Jeong Gwang was patting him down thoroughly.
“……What’re you doing?”
“Oh, you’re up? How’s the body?”
“……I’m more worried about what you took.”
“Nothing much. Thought you were high up since you recruited for Sima Lian, but just a grunt, huh?”
“Hahaha! Cough. Cough.”
Coughing, he grinned fiercely.
“High ranks carry nothing.”
“Right, yeah.”
Jeong Gwang got it instantly—same as his past self.
“Disciple of the Sima Lian Lord?”
“Sigh. Took you this long? Never heard of the Jade Qilin?”
Jeong Gwang’s eyes widened.
Whoa. Calls himself Jade Qilin. Terminal case of terminal delusions.
He was the True Jade Dragon, sure—but Hu Wei-jin as Jade Qilin? Absurd.
“Not embarrassed?”
“Heh. Sure, I was off-guard, and it was razor-thin, but a loss is a loss. All in war. No shame.”
His face shone with brazen pride.
Jeong Gwang couldn’t help but admire it.
Impressive! If my juniors had half his thick skin, the elders wouldn’t grill them so much.
Anyway.
How to handle this?
Sensing Jeong Gwang’s shifted gaze, chills ran over Hu Wei-jin.
“Y-you! Gonna kill me now?”
“Questions first. Shaanxi’s Huashan and Zhongnan turf—why come here?”
“Passing through.”
“Guess I’ll sell you off somewhere.”
“……Sell? Me? Where?”
“Dunno. Hm. How many senior brothers?”
“……Four. Why?”
“Sima Lian’s unorthodox, so succession fights get brutal, right? Kill or be killed.”
“……!”
Jeong Gwang eyed the paling Hu Wei-jin and muttered.
“Wonder how much one of them would pay.”
“What nonsense! You’d get nothing!”
“Ah! Better—auction you to all the seniors together.”
“You little—!”
“Last question. Why Shaanxi?”
“……”
After a silence, Hu Wei-jin’s lips parted slowly.
“Fine, I’ll tell. But answer mine too.”
“Nah.”
“……Alright. Hear me out, then answer if you want. Skip if not.”
“Deal.”
Hu Wei-jin forced himself upright. Wiping blood from his nose and face revealed a swollen mess.
“Damn. Teeth’re loose.”
He spat—a molar flew out. Pocketing it carefully, he glared at Jeong Gwang.
“You’re the first to loosen my teeth. Martial history’ll remember you.”
“Want a full pat-down?”
“You’ll know tomorrow anyway. Master sent me to open a branch hall in Shaanxi.”
Jeong Gwang was floored.
“Here, with Huashan and Zhongnan holding fort?”
“Better than Sichuan, packed with three of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang.”
“True, but……”
Jeong Gwang recalled past-life unorthodox territories. The north had orthodox dominance, but some unorthodox and demonic lurked.
Most clustered south: Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Guangxi, Guangdong, Fujian.
Sima Lian opening a branch in Shaanxi right after forming?
“A greeting to the orthodox world, huh.”
“Heh. Sharp.”
The Murim Alliance bordered Shaanxi in Henan. Sima Lian was shoving a dagger under their nose.
Sending a disciple here?
Hu Wei-jin was talented enough in Jeong Gwang’s eyes.
Thrusting him to the frontline meant trust in his skills—or a sacrificial pawn. Likely the latter, unorthodox style.
Jeong Gwang patted his shoulder sympathetically.
“Sacrifice pawn, huh. Hang in there.”
“Master’s using me as a masterstroke.”
“Nah, sacrifice pawn.”
“Masterstroke, I said!”
Barking while averting eyes—he thought the same, deep down.
Sima Lian Lord pushing another disciple, or some messy politics.
Not Jeong Gwang’s problem.
“So, what’s your plan?”
“My turn. Who are you?”
“Jeong Gwang.”
“Not that! No way you’re better than me at your age. Real rejuvenation master?”
Reincarnated, duh.
Anyway.
“Pass.”
“……Huh?”
“Not answering.”
Ignoring the trembling Hu Wei-jin, Jeong Gwang pressed on.
“What now?”
“……Hoo. I’ll hold out.”
“Till the lord changes his mind? Too good, and you’re a problem.”
“Demon. No other way.”
“Hm. Couldn’t sell you anyway.”
“Not necessarily. Seniors like quick and clean. Mission or not, they’d handle it themselves… Wait.”
Shrugging, Hu Wei-jin narrowed his eyes.
“Sneaky—posing questions as casual probes.”
“You spilled first.”
“My turn. Hey? Hey! Where you going?”
“Bed.”
“Wait! Just leaving? Why?”
“Lost interest.”
“Interest? Hey! I’m as good as dead!”
“Amitabha. Farewell, and peace in the next life.”
“You punk! I was gonna take you in, and you spout this crap?”
“Can’t even save yourself—taking who?”
Stung, Hu Wei-jin fell silent.
Jeong Gwang leaped away, then halted.
“Oh, hey.”
“……?”
“You testified I beat the Shaanxi Four Divisions, framing Huashan and Zhongnan, right?”
“……Yeah.”
“Those spoiled brats’ families—the Shaanxi bigwigs. They’ll grill Huashan and Zhongnan regardless, whether they did it or not.”
Jeong Gwang knew powerholders well. Paternal love existed, but love was love, opportunity opportunity.
“They’ve got leverage now. They’ll squeeze what they’ve always wanted. Officials don’t meddle in martial affairs? Pfft, if they don’t drool over Huashan and Zhongnan’s interests, they’re not officials.”
“……That easy?”
“Yeah. No ironclad proof, so the sects won’t just hand it over like suckers. Expect a long tug-of-war.”
“……What’re you getting at?”
“Sima Lian can do plenty in Shaanxi meanwhile. But first, cozy up to the officials.”
“……!”
Exactly as Jeong Gwang said.
Shamed for only thinking defense, Hu Wei-jin’s eyes sharpened, mind racing.
Right. Officials can’t brazenly rob Huashan and Zhongnan. While they poke, I swoop in. Feed them a cut to lock it down.
Not the great sects, but their lay affiliates’ businesses.
No bloodshed needed. Unorthodox had experts for “legal” takeovers without ruffling feathers.
Chance to solidify the branch bloodlessly. Master’ll take interest and watch closer.
The foggy path cleared.
Then Jeong Gwang’s palm appeared before him.
“My idea, so pay up.”