Compensate with Money!
Yeop Hyeon turned around.
A girl stood about a dozen paces away. She appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen, dressed in a light green skirt, smiling at Yeop Hyeon.
The girl slowly approached him. Her mischievous face and sparkling eyes made her look utterly adorable.
In her right hand, she gripped a hammer as long as her arm.
At that moment, Yeop Hyeon's eyes lit up upon seeing the hammer.
It was a True Tier spirit artifact.
Who was this girl, wielding a True Tier spirit artifact at such a young age?
She drew within five or six paces of Yeop Hyeon. He hurriedly kicked off the ground and retreated a dozen zhang.
The girl blinked in bewilderment before a smile crept across her lips.
"Don't worry, it won't hurt. One smack with the hammer, and your head explodes—no time to feel pain!"
She crept toward Yeop Hyeon again. He backpedaled another dozen zhang, widening the gap.
Annoyance flashed in her eyes as she glared.
"Come here! One hit, and it's over!"
"Why are you trying to kill me?"
"'Cause... hehe... killing you gets me a ton of money!"
With that, she hurled the hammer at Yeop Hyeon.
He took a large step forward and thrust his sword.
Thud!
The moment his sword clashed with the hammer, Yeop Hyeon's body carved a deep trench in the ground beneath him, shoving him back over twenty zhang.
He lowered his head to inspect his right hand. His entire arm trembled uncontrollably. Even his Spirit Water Sword vibrated fiercely, a crack now spiderwebbing its tip.
She's strong!
Yeop Hyeon looked up at the girl. She eyed him curiously and spoke.
"Whoa, you're pretty good! Taking a hit from me, Cheok Bal Little Demon, and still standing!"
She gave him a thumbs-up.
"No lie— you're about a tenth of my strength. Worthy of praise!"
Yeop Hyeon's face hardened like stone. Was that praise for him... or herself!?
Cheok Bal Little Demon, as she called herself, raised her hammer high again. Yeop Hyeon shouted hastily.
"W-Wait a second!"
She blinked.
"Huh? Why?"
He straightened, serious.
"I surrender!"
She nodded as if it were obvious.
"Yeah, you lose. That's how it should be. What's the problem?"
"……."
She spun the hammer, preparing to strike. Yeop Hyeon yelled again.
"Th-There's a problem! A huge one!"
"No, just one 'ow' and you're dead. What's the issue?"
Yeop Hyeon was speechless.
That's the problem, you little brat!
He darted forward and thrust a golden plaque at her.
Her eyes sparkled at the sight. It contained five hundred million gold nyang.
Five hundred million gold!
She snatched it.
"For me?"
Yeop Hyeon nodded gravely.
"I've been smitten since I first saw you."
"W-Why?"
"It's true! I can't lie. You're like a firefly dancing in the dark! So, wanna be friends? I love hanging with strong folks!"
She beamed, pleased.
"Hmm, you've got a good eye."
Yeop Hyeon's lip twitched upward. He was blind...
She held up the plaque.
"But five hundred million? You sure about giving it away?"
He stayed earnest.
"What's money between friends? You came from far-off Jungto Sinju—must need cash. Take this for now; if it's not enough, I'll sell my blood to get more!"
As she moved to respond, touched, a group of Black Flame Cavalry emerged behind her.
Yeop Hyeon's face darkened. They'd caught up far faster than expected.
"Who's that?"
He pulled her behind him.
"Chang Mok Academy's cavalry. Anyway, I don't wanna trouble you—go first. It's fine. I can handle them!"
With that, he gripped his sword and charged.
She stared, dumbfounded.
As Yeop Hyeon closed in, his sword intent thickened, cracking the ground like spiderwebs with each step.
When he was a zhang away, he leaped high and slashed down.
A streak of white sword light engulfed the cavalry leaders!
Boom!
A massive explosion hurled the front rider dozens of zhang away, motionless.
But Yeop Hyeon rebounded, crashing into the dirt. Blood dripped from a fresh shoulder wound.
He'd landed right in front of the girl. She helped him up, worried.
"You okay?"
He clutched his chest, shaking his head.
"Y-Yeah, fine."
Gripping his sword anew, he lunged at the cavalry again, roaring.
"Your business is with me—don't touch a hair on that girl's head!"
Hearing him, she gazed at the golden plaque and muttered with a sigh.
"Why do I have to be so amazing that guys won't leave me alone... Dad, you must've saved the country in a past life. How else could a beauty like me come from your face?"
Boom!
Lost in self-admiration, she blinked as Yeop Hyeon rolled back into view.
He spat a mouthful of blood, struggling up. But the Black Flame Cavalry had swarmed, encircling them.
Yeop Hyeon wiped blood from his mouth, staring blankly.
The girl eyed the cavalry curiously.
Then, a middle-aged man appeared above them.
Mak Cheong-hyeon.
He eyed Yeop Hyeon warily, suspiciously.
At Yeop Hyeon's level, he shouldn't fall so easily—even against cavalry.
A trap!
This cunning, shameless boy had set another one.
Mak Cheong-hyeon's gaze shifted to the girl beside him. She spoke first.
"Ganging up on one guy—isn't that a bit cowardly?"
"Insolent wench, what do you know!?"
She glanced at Yeop Hyeon, flustered.
"See? He insulted me!"
Yeop Hyeon nodded vigorously.
"Yeah! I heard it too!"
She yelled at Mak Cheong-hyeon, furious.
"Hey, you old..."
She turned to Yeop Hyeon.
"What next?"
"Dickhead!"
She faced Mak Cheong-hyeon.
"Hey, you twisted old dickhead!"
Steam rose from Mak Cheong-hyeon's head.
"Kill them all!"
The cavalry lunged. But her hammer flew faster, smashing the lead rider away before anyone reacted.
His armor cracked with a snap.
Yeop Hyeon's mouth twitched.
Ming Tier armor splitting like that? From one hammer blow!?
He glanced at Mak Cheong-hyeon—equally stunned.
Ignoring them, she swung relentlessly.
A nearby rider shattered his spear and flew off.
As she raised for another, Yeop Hyeon grabbed her arm.
"Don't hit too hard! That armor costs tens of millions per set!"
Her eyes sparkled.
"Tens of millions!?"
He nodded frantically.
"Yeah, all super valuable!"
As they chatted, the cavalry charged.
Suddenly, she slammed her hammer down.
Boom!
The ground quaked within a hundred zhang, like an earthquake. A dozen nearby riders launched skyward. The rest halted.
Aftershocks faded, leaving spiderweb cracks radiating out.
Yeop Hyeon wiped sweat from his brow. She was too strong.
At least top ten in Yo Yeolbang, no doubt.
Watching from above, Mak Cheong-hyeon faltered, then shouted.
"Who the hell are you!?"
She glanced up, brushing back her bangs.
"Cheok Bal Little Demon. Dad says I was born to save the world."
"……."
Yeop Hyeon tugged her sleeve, whispering.
"Careful—that old dickhead's peak Myriad Laws Realm!"
She waved dismissively.
"A hundred of those geezers couldn't touch Dad's fist! Not that I rely on my parents like some weakling!"
She turned to Mak Cheong-hyeon.
"My uncle's as strong as Dad too. Keep this up, and I'll call him!"
Yeop Hyeon blinked. Relying on parents vs. uncle—what's the difference?
Mak Cheong-hyeon's face, hovering, was ashen.
The girl was undeniably from Jungto Sinju—no one in Qingzhou matched her. And her background sounded formidable.
His expression softened.
"Little miss, we didn't realize you were from a noble house—forgive us? Chang Mok Academy has no quarrel with you..."
Yeop Hyeon tugged her sleeve again, whispering.
"Tell him to compensate—with money! Mental anguish damages!"
Cheok Bal Little Demon blinked twice, then yelled.
"Compensate!"
She whispered to Yeop Hyeon.
"How much?"
He said sternly.
"He knows he insulted you bad. Can't let that slide on a cutie like you! Demand two billion gold nyang! If no? Call your uncle and dad—whole family!"