I Never Touched Your Sister!
Love?
Yeop Hyeon knew nothing of love. He'd never experienced it. But one thing was crystal clear: being with An Ranxiu made him happy.
No other thoughts crossed his mind.
Then, something halted Yeop Hyeon's steps. An elderly man stood before him.
It was Ling Hu, the one who attended An Ranxiu.
Yeop Hyeon and Ling Hu stared at each other in silence. Finally, Ling Hu spoke first.
"This old man's name is Ling Hu. I'm the servant who waits upon the young lady."
"An Ranxiu's?"
Ling Hu nodded.
"What brings you to me...?"
"What this old man is about to say might displease you. I ask for your understanding in advance."
Yeop Hyeon nodded in agreement.
"Though the young lady hails from the Jiang Kingdom, her background is far from ordinary. It might be hard to hear, but those who cross paths with her now won't even deserve to glance her way in the future. Do you understand?"
"You're telling me to stay away from her?"
Ling Hu nodded.
"Of course, seeing as you've caught the young lady's eye, I acknowledge you have something extraordinary about you. But she's not just an unparalleled genius herself—the forces behind her surpass your wildest imaginings. If you harbor any other intentions toward her despite that, it could bring suffering not only to your life but to hers as well."
Yeop Hyeon fell silent.
"Young Master Yeop, forgive this old man, but please don't dismiss my words. Farewell."
With that, space tore open before Ling Hu, and he vanished into the rift.
This was a feat reserved for peak experts in the Penetrating Nether Realm!
Control Qi Realm, Soaring Realm, and then Penetrating Nether Realm. He was several stages above Yeop Hyeon! And for such a man to pose as a mere servant! Yeop Hyeon took it as a blatant warning, revealing his power right before his eyes.
Yeop Hyeon stood motionless for a moment before slowly resuming his ascent up the mountain.
Burdened?
The Heavenly Maiden asked. Yeop Hyeon nodded.
Your sister's Fire Spirit won't last more than a month or two at best. If you don't find a replacement in time, she'll be in danger again. And don't forget—the entity on the second floor of the Gyeok Ok Tower will awaken soon. Without even a single Dochik when that happens, you'll die for sure. And your sister will suffer an even worse fate. Remember that.
Yeop Hyeon drew a deep breath and shouted.
"I want to train! I want to grow stronger!"
His steps quickened.
He had to grow stronger. For himself, and for his sister. If Yeop Hyeon didn't, their fates as siblings would be miserable.
Lost in these thoughts, Yeop Hyeon soon reached Canglan Hall. But then his expression hardened.
In the distance, Yeop Ryeong sat collapsed, sobbing! Beside her stood Mu Yun Qi, his face bruised purple from An Ranxiu's blows. His words weren't clear, but each time he pointed at Yeop Ryeong and said something, her sobs grew more heartbroken.
In an instant, Yeop Hyeon's face twisted in fury.
"How dare you touch my little sister!?"
With those words, a sword materialized in his palm.
A surge of mighty energy, laced with faint sword light, erupted from his body. The weeds around him began slicing apart from the sheer pressure and sword glow alone.
A ferocious strike unleashing boundless killing intent!
Mu Yun Qi spotted the rampaging Yeop Hyeon and tried to stammer an explanation in panic, but Yeop Hyeon's sword was already hurtling toward him. Daunted by its overwhelming power, Mu Yun Qi didn't even think to block—he vaulted over the wall and fled.
In that instant! The wall crumbled to dust.
"Damn it!"
Mu Yun Qi's face drained of color as the wall exploded behind him. He poured on the speed, bolting blindly ahead.
Yeop Hyeon chased him like a madman. Everywhere he passed turned to powder.
Once Yeop Hyeon and Mu Yun Qi vanished, Yeop Ryeong panicked. She ran toward where they'd gone. But at her speed, catching up was impossible. They soon vanished from sight, leaving only Mu Yun Qi's distant screams.
"Brother! Calm down! I swear I didn't touch that kid!"
But his cries were swiftly drowned by the sword's roar.
Boom—!
Rumble—!
Yeop Ryeong muttered in distress.
"Brother, what if you get hurt..."
Yeop Ryeong suddenly bolted toward Ji Yuan Zhang's quarters. Inside, the dean lay sprawled in the main hall, a bottle of liquor at his lips, dead to the world in a drunken stupor.
Yeop Ryeong shook his arm, yelling.
"Grandpa! Grandpa! Brother's fighting the new guy! We have to stop them quick!"
Dead drunk and out cold, Ji Yuan Zhang didn't so much as twitch.
Helpless, Yeop Ryeong dashed to Ji An Zhi's quarters next. The moment she saw her, she pleaded anxiously.
"Sis! Brother's about to fight the new guy. Can you stop them? I'm worried sick he'll get hurt!"
Ji An Zhi stepped forward, her face stern.
"You... can you cook?"
Yeop Ryeong nodded without thinking.
"I'm hungry."
"......"
Behind Canglan Hall loomed a vast mountain range, dotted with a single dilapidated building. Two shadows tore through it wildly.
Mu Yun Qi led the chase. He didn't dare look back, sprinting at full tilt. Small round objects orbited his feet, boosting his speed to a gale-force blur.
And trailing him: Yeop Hyeon, gripping his Spirit Water Sword!
Ferocious energy poured from Yeop Hyeon's body. Trees and grass ripped out by the roots in his wake.
Half a shichen passed like this. Mu Yun Qi gritted his teeth, trying to stand and fight, but he quailed before One Sword Determines Life and Death and fled anew. His iron staff had cleaved in half before even touching Yeop Hyeon's blade.
Cutting iron like that! I can't win!
Mu Yun Qi darted through the woods like the wind, Yeop Hyeon hot on his heels...
Meanwhile, the moon set and the sun rose.
As Mu Yun Qi stumbled back toward Canglan Hall, gasping, Yeop Hyeon closed in to strike. Just then, Yeop Ryeong—who'd kept vigil all night on the stone steps beside the hall—rushed forward and threw her arms around him.
"Brother, brother, you're okay, right? You're not hurt!?"
Mu Yun Qi, sprawled eagle-flat on the ground, nearly choked on her words in disbelief.
"Damn it, who got hurt!?"
Spotting Yeop Ryeong snapped Yeop Hyeon back to his senses. He stroked her hair gently.
"Ryeong, you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
Yeop Hyeon's gaze shifted to Mu Yun Qi. Just that look made the man tremble in terror.
"Y-you, don't just assume! I never touched your sister! Ask her if you don't believe me!"
Yeop Hyeon turned to Yeop Ryeong.
"Ryeong, what happened?"
Yeop Ryeong hung her head, silent.
"What's wrong? Tell me."
"Well... I remembered back at the Ye family, when you found a single dumpling and gave it to me... even though you were starving too... That memory hit me, and I started crying."
Tears welled up anew in Yeop Ryeong's eyes. Yeop Hyeon pulled her into a light embrace.
"Silly girl, that was ages ago. Brother won't let you suffer again—don't worry!"
"You don't suffer either, Brother!"
"Yeah... let's both live well from now on. Got it?"
Yeop Ryeong met his eyes and nodded.
"Okay!"
A moment later, he tucked the now-sleeping Yeop Ryeong into bed. Yeop Hyeon returned to Canglan Hall and approached Mu Yun Qi, who eyed him warily, ready to bolt again.
Yeop Hyeon pulled out a gourd and tossed it over.
"Sorry."
Mu Yun Qi glanced at him, took a swig, and sighed in relief—no more being hunted by that bloodthirsty maniac.
"What's the name of that sword art you used?"
"One Sword Determines Life and Death!"
"Damn strong. I couldn't block it."
"Then what were those round things orbiting your feet? Some kind of weapon?"
"Ten Thousand Li Wind Chaser Technique. Low-grade Xuan-tier."
Exhausted, Mu Yun Qi flopped onto the stone steps.
"Without it, you'd have killed me back there."
Yeop Hyeon cradled his head in his hands and lay back too.
"Sorry!"
"My bad too. Saw your sister crying and thought I'd tease her a bit—told her I'd gotten beat up by you. Made her cry even harder."
"......"
Just then, a bald man approached them.
He looked about eighteen or nineteen, built like a mountain. Taller than Mu Yun Qi or Yeop Hyeon by a head. His bare upper body rippled with jagged muscles.
Around his neck hung what looked like bones—still flecked with fresh blood!
Mu Yun Qi whispered.
"That guy's a Canglan Academy student like us? Wanna spar?"
"You first?"
"Sure, why not!"
No sooner said than Mu Yun Qi leaped up. His form shot forward like the wind.
He closed in instantly and lashed a kick at the bald man's shoulder.
The bald man didn't flinch, standing stock-still.
Thud—!
A dull impact echoed as Mu Yun Qi flew back a dozen zhang. His kicking leg trembled violently. The bald man, unfazed, hadn't budged.
The bald man glared at Mu Yun Qi with displeasure.
Mu Yun Qi paled and yelled at Yeop Hyeon.
"Get over here and help!"
Yeop Hyeon strode toward the bald man. As he approached, the man tensed, eyes wary. Then Yeop Hyeon clapped his fists together and shouted!
"Welcome to Canglan Academy!"
The bald man cupped his hands in return.
"Thanks."
Mu Yun Qi gaped at Yeop Hyeon in shock.
"You...!!"
The bald man turned and fixed Mu Yun Qi with a piercing stare.
"Haha, misunderstanding, total misunderstanding..."
Ignoring Mu Yun Qi's frantic waving, the bald man advanced. Mu Yun Qi spun and fled, yelling.
"Yeop Hyeon! You bastard! Selling me out like that!"