Just a Pity She Likes Men
Yeop Hyeon was taken aback.
Who hit me?
He drew his Spirit Water Sword and scanned the surroundings, but found nothing.
Yeop Hyeon reflected his face off the blade.
Through the Spirit Water Sword, a small claw mark was vividly imprinted on his cheek.
In that instant, Yeop Hyeon jolted in shock.
It matched exactly the footprint on the paper that had flown in through the entrance to the second floor of the Gyeok Ok Tower!
Did that thing come out!?
Cold sweat trickled down Yeop Hyeon's back. He hurriedly entered the Gyeok Ok Tower.
The place was utterly silent. Nothing had changed. There was no presence on the second floor either.
Yeop Hyeon stared gravely at the entrance to the second floor. It was certain that the entity which had marked his face dwelled on the second floor of the Gyeok Ok Tower, but he had no idea what to do about it.
Should I go up and fight it?
No, what if I end up getting done in instead!?
Yeop Hyeon rubbed his still-stinging right cheek and exited the Gyeok Ok Tower.
The same day at noon, inside the Canglan Hall.
As always, the table was laden with all sorts of dishes. Everyone from Canglan Academy, including Dean Ji Yuan Zhang, sat around it in a circle.
Ji An Zhi ignored the stares around her and licked her chopsticks vigorously. Everyone had grown so accustomed to her behavior that no one frowned or said a word about it.
At that moment, Dean Ji opened his mouth.
"We'll leave after the meal."
Leave?
"Are they going to Yangjie Mountain too?"
Dean Ji shook his head at Yeop Hyeon's question.
"These two will train with me elsewhere."
Yeop Hyeon nodded and turned to Mu Yun Qi and Bai Ze.
"Take care of yourselves!"
"You too."
"Next time we meet, let's have a proper rematch!"
Yeop Hyeon just smiled at Mu Yun Qi's words. Yeop Ryeong, sitting beside him, chided him.
"Hmph, you'll never beat my brother!"
"Yeah, yeah! Your brother won't lose!"
In truth, Yeop Ryeong now held the most real power in Canglan Academy.
All the chores fell to her. She handled the meals, served drinks and night snacks to Dean Ji and Ji An Zhi, and even helped with the laundry.
Bai Ze, who loved cleanliness, had no choice but to adore her especially.
If anyone dared touch Yeop Ryeong, not only Yeop Hyeon but everyone else would fight to the death.
The true powerholder of Canglan Academy, Yeop Ryeong, smugly placed a piece of tender meat into Yeop Hyeon's rice bowl.
"Oppa, eat this!"
Yeop Hyeon gazed at her fondly and stroked her head.
"Sigh, life must be tough without a little sister."
Mu Yun Qi's lament sent the room into an uproar of laughter.
Half a shichen later, Dean Ji descended the mountain with Mu Yun Qi and Bai Ze.
Mu Yun Qi waved at Yeop Hyeon, who had come to see them off.
"Next time, a real fight!"
"Haha, sounds good!"
Bai Ze also cupped his fists toward Yeop Hyeon in greeting.
"Take care!"
With that, Bai Ze chased after the leading Dean Ji and Mu Yun Qi.
After they had all left, Yeop Hyeon turned to Ji An Zhi.
"You can protect my sister, right?"
Ji An Zhi said nothing, just stared at Yeop Hyeon.
She gazed at him impassively.
Suddenly, a thin saber appeared in her hand. In an instant, she leaped ten zhang away and swung the saber toward the ground.
The dry earth cracked with a boom!
The fissure was so deep its bottom couldn't be seen. A mysterious saber intent still emanated from within.
Her single move was a silent promise that Yeop Ryeong would be safe.
Yeop Hyeon's eyes narrowed in surprise.
Saber Intent! That glutton's skill is this strong!?
Yeop Hyeon suddenly recalled their first meeting.
Even when he had accidentally seen Ji An Zhi naked back then, that saber had come straight for his throat!
As Yeop Hyeon shuddered and touched his neck, Yeop Ryeong approached and handed him a bundle.
"Oppa, I put some shoes I made and dry rations in here. Don't fight too much out there, and please don't get hurt. I'll be fine, so don't worry about me!"
Yeop Hyeon stroked her head.
"Wait for me. I'll be back soon!"
Yeop Hyeon slung the bundle over his back and set off down the path.
Of course, he was worried about his sister.
But as a man, if there was something to do, he believed in acting decisively without hesitation—that was his philosophy.
Yeop Ryeong gazed endlessly at Yeop Hyeon's shrinking figure.
She didn't shed a single tear until he was completely gone.
After staring in that direction for so long, Yeop Ryeong finally took Ji An Zhi's hand.
"Unnie, let's go now!"
"Worried?"
"Oppa said he'd come back, so he definitely will! He's always kept his promises to me so far!"
Ji An Zhi nodded. Her gaze drifted toward where Yeop Hyeon had vanished.
"He's a good one.... It's just a pity she likes men......"
Descending the mountain, Yeop Hyeon headed straight for O Lu Ju's cloud ship docking area. To reach Yangjie Mountain, he needed to use a cloud ship.
As Yeop Hyeon was about to exit the city gates, a group of martial artists poured out from within.
They were students from Changmok Academy.
Ever since their fellow students had been killed by Yeop Hyeon's group last time, they had been sharpening their blades for revenge.
They simply lacked the guts to storm Canglan Academy, so they'd stayed quiet until now.
But that didn't mean they'd done nothing.
They had stationed people near Canglan Academy and rushed over the moment they heard Yeop Hyeon was descending the mountain!
As Yeop Hyeon stopped, the Changmok Academy students halted too.
Yeop Hyeon glared sharply at them.
"One-on-one?"
One-on-one?
Caught off guard by Yeop Hyeon's direct challenge, the Changmok students faltered.
At that moment, one of them stepped forward, radiating a fierce aura as he addressed Yeop Hyeon.
"Yeop Hyeon, you killed our Changmok Academy students and......"
Thwack—!
Before he could finish, he flew ten zhang away.
The Changmok students' faces twisted.
He's coming out strong!
They exchanged glances and were about to charge together.
Yeop Hyeon shouted.
"Yeah, just all come at me at once! Your Changmok Academy has no face anyway. Come on, all of you!"
Everyone's expressions soured.
They had planned to gang up regardless.
But the moment Yeop Hyeon said it, they couldn't.
As he pointed out, ganging up on one in broad daylight would tarnish their reputation even in victory!
Seeing their hesitation, Yeop Hyeon pointed at them and yelled.
"Rookies!"
Yeop Hyeon turned and walked away.
The Changmok students glared at his back with hatred.
Not one dared to attack.
None believed they could block that strike from earlier.
If they pressed the fight, it'd end ugly.
They now knew clearly that to face Yeop Hyeon, they needed their inner court disciples.
Thus, Yeop Hyeon vanished slowly amid their piercing glares.
Half a shichen later, Yeop Hyeon boarded a cloud ship. With O Lu Ju's VIP token, he was assigned a luxury cabin for free. Yeop Hyeon had no reason to refuse such treatment.
After the cloud ship set sail, Yeop Hyeon went up to the deck.
"You!"
A familiar voice rang in his ears.
Turning, he saw a peerless beauty in a red skirt.
Her slender figure especially stirred a desire in any man to embrace her once.
The woman was none other than Mo Sui Qing.
Beside her stood a man in splendid silk robes and a golden crown. He had fair skin and handsome features.
The man quietly watched Yeop Hyeon from Mo Sui Qing's side.
Yeop Hyeon had no desire to chat long with Mo Sui Qing. He glanced lightly at her and turned toward the bow.
Gazing at the shrinking scenery as the ship ascended, he pondered the legendary Sword Immortal in his mind.
Riding the sword across the heavens!
Flying on a sword was the dream of all sword cultivators.
Meanwhile, ignored by Yeop Hyeon, Mo Sui Qing's expression turned icy.
She had always been the center of attention her whole life.
When had she ever been dismissed like this?
Mo Sui Qing approached Yeop Hyeon. He turned to look at her.
She was undoubtedly beautiful. What man in the world could resist her charms?
But not Yeop Hyeon. He had no interest in her—only contempt.
He despised women like Mo Sui Qing, who showed no respect for others.
An Ranxiu is a hundred—no, a thousand times better!!
Thinking of the angelic An Ranxiu softened Yeop Hyeon's gaze. He wore that foolish expression again.
"Yeop Hyeon!"
A sharp voice shattered his reverie.
"How can you treat me with such contempt!?"
Yeop Hyeon shook his head in response.
"There's a saying: don't mix words with those not on your path."
Mo Sui Qing glared at him.
"I heard you joined Canglan Academy!"
Yeop Hyeon nodded.
"Congrats!"
Mo Sui Qing flashed a smile brighter than the sun.
Yeop Hyeon simply found her repulsive. Her beauty didn't sway him at all.
He nodded curtly and shifted aside, signaling he was done talking.
But Mo Sui Qing didn't give up.
"In a year or so, there'll be a martial exchange between Changmok and Canglan Academies. You know, right?"
Yeop Hyeon didn't reply. Undeterred, Mo Sui Qing continued.
"I'll definitely be there to watch!"
Yeop Hyeon ignored her again and moved further aside.
Mo Sui Qing's face stiffened for a moment.
She whipped her head toward the man beside her.
"Mu-ge, look at this! He's totally ignoring me!"
The one called Mu-ge glanced between Yeop Hyeon and Mo Sui Qing but said nothing.
He knew she was trying to use him to fight her battles.
Then, Yeop Hyeon turned to Mo Sui Qing with an irritated shout.
"Hey, still don't get it? I really hate you, that's why. So stop bothering me! If you talk to me one more time, I might slap you. Got it?"
"......"