Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Tactics and Strategy
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Wang Qinglin was a walking disaster generator, plain and simple.
And that assessment seemed reasonable enough at first glance.
After all, people were hot on her trail, chasing her down.
Familiar faces, no less.
It was the Mount Hua Sect's trio—Bang Kwang-sil, Sun Hyuk-rae, and Joo Geum-ryeong—along with Kunlun Sect's Ban Bang-geun and Ko Hyo-kyung. Five in total.
Wang Qinglin panted heavily as she skidded to a halt in front of Han Ibi.
"What in the world did you do?"
Wang Qinglin bristled.
"Do? I didn't do anything!"
"Then why are they chasing you?"
She stomped her foot in frustration.
"That witch... She stirred up her sectmates to come after me! She's been tailing me from the start, no doubt. The coward..."
Indeed.
Back at the restaurant, those two women had gone at it fiercely, trading blows and barbs.
They'd quieted down after Heo Son-dam's warning, but still.
Putting it all together, it sounded like Joo Geum-ryeong from Mount Hua Sect—nursing a grudge—had seized a legitimate chance to fight and targeted her.
Even rallying others to join in?
That was when it happened.
The Mount Hua and Kunlun group burst onto the scene.
And among them, one person was especially delighted to see Han Ibi...
Ban Bang-geun from Kunlun Sect, who'd been turned into a human skewer during the long-range weapons test thanks to Han Ibi.
Of course, Han Ibi had been disqualified for cheating...
"Well, if it isn't Young Master Jong!"
Ban Bang-geun's lips twisted up at a seventeen-degree angle.
"Young Master Ban. Come to think of it, we haven't had much chance to talk since then."
Someone recognized Hyejeong, too.
Ko Hyo-kyung from Kunlun Sect.
They'd been grouped together in the formation array test.
"Monk Hyejeong, doing well?"
"Amitabha. Good to see you, patron."
"Still talking like that old fogey, huh?"
Then Joo Geum-ryeong spoke up.
"Senior brothers. We don't have time for this. Hurry and take that girl's scarf so we can find Instructor Heo."
Wang Qinglin let out a piercing shriek.
"You coward! Can't fight fair one-on-one, huh? Had to bring your whole gang?"
Joo Geum-ryeong's face hardened instantly.
"Oh my, oh my. Look at this. You were scampering away like a scared rabbit a second ago, and now that you've found your friends, you're all talk?"
"She's not our friend," Han Ibi said.
Wang Qinglin shot him a panicked glance.
"In this test, whose side is who? To win, you've got to beat everyone eventually."
Wang Qinglin exploded again.
"Hey! Jong Ri-mae! I didn't think you were like this!"
"Oh yeah? That's how I saw it... Anyway... Monk!"
Hyejeong responded awkwardly to Han Ibi's call.
"Uh... yes. Yes."
"Let's get going. We've got to hunt down that Demonic Cult Leader."
"But..."
Hyejeong hesitated at the current situation.
Then Bang Kwang-sil from Mount Hua spoke.
"Oh-ho... Using your head, are we? Planning to cut off the tail?"
"What tail? She was never anything but a nuisance anyway."
Wang Qinglin looked ready to erupt, her face bubbling with rage.
Bang Kwang-sil burst into loud laughter.
"Clever fellow. Judging her a liability right now and drawing a line, eh?"
And truthfully, Wang Qinglin was burning up inside.
At first, she'd barely given Han Ibi a second thought—not even toenail dirt.
But after seeing his skills in the formation array and poison chambers, she'd warmed to him a bit.
A sliver of fondness, even.
But today...
"Listen," Han Ibi said. "Seems you misunderstand. There was never any line to draw in the first place."
Sun Hyuk-rae, looking impatient and shaking his long hair, stepped forward.
"No time for this. The scarf battles are raging even now."
Han Ibi waved and pulled Hyejeong along.
"Well then... see you later."
He started to walk past the flustered Wang Qinglin for real.
She looked on the verge of tears, seething with betrayal.
"...Assuming you haven't been eliminated by then," Han Ibi added.
Bang Kwang-sil grinned.
"A reasonable man. Hope we meet again. Now, Junior Sister Joo."
"Yes."
"Why not show Young Lady Wang what you're made of?"
"Gladly."
Joo Geum-ryeong smirked, raising her sword.
Wang Qinglin had no choice but to draw her own sword in defense.
That was when Han Ibi suddenly shouted, pointing up at the trees in alarm.
"Ambush!"
Everyone whipped their heads upward.
In that instant, Han Ibi drew his Hanjo Sword, boosting his agility.
Then, like the wind, he lunged at Sun Hyuk-rae of Mount Hua and Ko Hyo-kyung of Kunlun right beside him.
They sensed something off and turned, but too late—Han Ibi was already slicing at their legs.
"You sneaky bastard!" Sun Hyuk-rae yelled.
They leaped back desperately.
But...
Han Ibi's move was a feint. He slammed the Hanjo Sword into the ground and vaulted into the air with a flip, hands raised.
He landed smoothly.
"Tsk tsk. Falling for such a basic trick..."
In the chaos, Han Ibi held the torn scarves from Sun Hyuk-rae and Ko Hyo-kyung in each hand.
He pocketed them swiftly.
"Thanks for the generous gift."
Bang Kwang-sil, furious to his core, roared.
"You despicable cur! And you said you weren't taking her side!"
"I'm not."
Bang Kwang-sil trembled with rage.
"That doesn't make you our allies either," Han Ibi continued. "If you regret it, you should've formally proposed an alliance earlier. What do you say? Still time now?"
He retrieved the Hanjo Sword from the ground.
Bang Kwang-sil shuddered, bellowing.
"You little shit! This means war!"
Han Ibi's eyes widened dramatically.
"Looks like we've got no choice! Time to use our secret weapon!"
Everyone flinched at his commanding presence.
In that moment, Han Ibi launched forward, grabbing Hyejeong and Wang Qinglin and dragging them along.
Wang Qinglin got pulled in unwittingly.
"Wh-what is this? You just acted all dramatic like you were gonna do something big!"
"Exactly. No choice, right? So this is it."
Wang Qinglin looked even more baffled.
"Running away is your secret weapon?"
"When numbers are even, winning's just breaking even. This test isn't about petty victories—it's strategic hunting and taking down the Demonic Cult Leader. The one who claims his head guards the center as the top rank, 'Yellow Dragon.' The one who slays the most foes guards the east as the bravest, 'Blue Dragon.' It's testing wisdom and valor together. A bit childish, sure..."
In modern terms, a simulation game.
Hyejeong, running alongside in surprise, nodded admiringly.
"I can't help but marvel at your wisdom, patron."
Wang Qinglin frowned curiously.
"But... how do you know all this?"
Han Ibi snapped to attention.
'Yeah... how do I know this?'
He idly opened his status window.
[Bottom of Status Window: Activated Passive Skills]
✨ Newly Activated:Tactical Stratagem Essentials (戰術策略輯要)
Han Ibi called out to the system.
'System!'
'Ah... So it auto-activates in situations using strategy and tactics. And it expresses through... my brain and mouth!'
Han Ibi suddenly recalled how numerous bandit strongholds had mobilized to steal this item.
And it had been locked in a chest boasting top-tier security.
A thrill of excitement washed over him.
'Could this be... one of the better 108 Fortuitous Encounters?'
Wang Qinglin snapped him out of it with a yell.
"What are you spacing out for? How long are we running? They'll keep chasing us anyway!"
Plans flashed through Han Ibi's mind like a montage.
He activated 'Design Analysis' to scan the terrain, then veered left into a new direction.
Hyejeong and Wang Qinglin had no choice but to follow.
Behind them, the furious alliance of Bang Kwang-sil, Ban Bang-geun, and Joo Geum-ryeong pursued relentlessly.
The spot they'd clashed was near a flat plain dotted with low grass.
But now, Han Ibi led them toward a dense thicket of birch trees as thick as a burly man's thighs.
Wang Qinglin panted.
"Why are we heading there?"
"Why? Well..."
Han Ibi glanced back briefly.
"Looks like Young Master Ban Bang-geun can explain."
Thud.
Wang Qinglin jolted in shock.
A flying dagger had embedded itself in the tree right next to her face.
"He's better with blades than he looks. Makes sense—he made it this far, after all."
Thud.
Another dagger whizzed past her, sticking into a nearby tree.
Han Ibi muttered.
"Aha! I get it now. That Ban Bang-geun guy's got the hots for the lovely Joo Geum-ryeong. He's trying to off you to win her heart..."
Wang Qinglin exploded.
"What nonsense in a time like this? Find a way out!"
"A way? This is it. In a thick forest like this, ranged attacks lose their edge. Push a bit deeper, and they'll be neutralized. Hurry inside. You too, Monk Hyejeong."
Hyejeong hesitated but, fearing more daggers, followed Wang Qinglin into the woods.
Han Ibi yanked the dagger from the tree and pocketed it.
To ensure fairness, the number of hidden weapons and daggers given to participants was strictly limited.
Poisoning or scattering them was banned for safety.
Recycling daggers wasn't a bad idea.
Seeing Han Ibi's group enter the birch grove, Ban Bang-geun paused.
Joo Geum-ryeong urged him on.
"Why'd you stop?"
Ban Bang-geun grimaced.
"That guy's... craftier than he seems. I know—I fought him."
Bang Kwang-sil laughed heartily.
"Young Master Ban. Didn't peg you for the timid type. Even if he's a sly lone wolf, we all landed together earlier. No time for traps."
Joo Geum-ryeong giggled in agreement.
(Continued in the next chapter)