Chapter 156
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 156
Chapter Title: The Joy of Sharing (1)
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He was a man of ordinary build with a plain face.
Sitting in his chair with his chin propped up, he scanned the documents on the desk before sweeping his gaze over the men gathered in the room.
Their faces twitched and trembled!
His eyes were as serene as a clear, cloudless sky, yet terror was plain on their faces. A single word from him could decide their fates.
"Intriguing."
The quiet silence broke as the man smiled. He had received the report on the failure's circumstances, but he needed to hear it directly.
"Our cult's grand undertaking shouldn't be so sloppy. I can't understand these repeated failures."
"The grand plan is flawless. It seems Mok-am's impatience simply backfired."
"Seems? Not certain, then."
"Forgive us. If given the chance, we will turn Mok-am's failure around."
The five men standing in the room held positions equal to Mok-am's. Yet even they couldn't compare to this man. His ordinary appearance was mere false packaging. He was a being on an entirely different level from them.
"You think you can reattach a tail we've already severed?"
"Give the order, and we obey."
"Abandon the failed plan. Focus on the outer regions for now. And raise security one level."
"Yes, Heavenly General."
Though Mok-am had played his final card and severed the tail, the Central Plains hadn't let down their guard. For now, they had to wait until that vigilance eased. To do so meant cutting away the failed plan entirely. Attempting to salvage it risked exposing another tail.
"Contact the Pang family."
The link between Hebei Province and Jiangsu Province was still possible. It was just bait scattered for now, but seizing Jiangsu wouldn't be difficult. Even if the plan went awry, it could be dismissed as infighting between sects.
"What of Mok-am's death?"
"Unconfirmed at present."
"How many in the Central Plains could take on Mok-am?"
"With the Black Killer Squad fully mobilized, no one short of the Twenty-One Strong of Shenzhou."
"So there's someone besides the Sword Emperor."
"That's the strong likelihood."
If Mok-am unleashed his sorcery and joined forces with the Great Black Ghost, even the Twenty-One Strong of Shenzhou wouldn't easily subdue him alone. That made it all the more puzzling. Mok-am's plan had rushed at the end, but it hadn't been sloppy enough to leave such gaps.
"Hard to believe he completely shook off pursuit. Especially after that prior incident."
"We're not ruling out any variables."
After failing to procure materials, the Nangong family and the Beggars' Sect had slyly twisted information to turn Mok-am's plan against him. There was no guarantee it wouldn't happen again, so caution was needed.
'But what's with this guy?'
There was an irritating crumb in the report. Some strange fellow had meddled. But it was too much of a stretch to call him a variable. Impressive for a mid-tier sect, but that was it.
'He harbors malice.'
He kept butting in whenever they tried to sweep him aside, and it always worked out coincidentally. He was known in the cult for his cool-headedness, yet losing reason over personal grudges was foolish.
Still, if the coincidences continued, he was worth watching.
"I won't forgive any more failures. Remember that."
"Yes, Heavenly General!"
Kraaaang!
Thunderous force roared. Lightning condensed at the tip of his thrusting fist, erupting in an explosion. Was this what the descent of the Thunder God felt like? Lightning churned around her like the halo of a Buddha.
It was the phenomenon of Heavenly Thunder Skill reaching the realm of Form. Few martial artists achieved Form with Heavenly Thunder Skill, a type of qi art based on lightning qi. At present, Nangong Yeonhwa was the only one.
Shoooosh!
Nine Narak images etched afterimages in a frontal assault. The struck afterimage scattered. But rather than satisfaction, she had to unleash Nine Thunder Gods in succession.
Left and right didn't play separately. People are born leaning to one side. As a result, their right and left hands and feet never achieved perfect balance.
The more one trained in martial arts, the more one realized the importance of that balance. Perfect balance allowed martial power to be wielded most effectively.
Yet perfect symmetry between left and right was equally rare.
Nangong Yeonhwa's right fist and left fist were in balance. If the right was blocked, the left unleashed Heavenly Thunder Skill.
It was an astonishing achievement.
For a woman of her age to reach such heights made the label "genius" fit perfectly.
So what!
Even geniuses were mere staples to the monster toying with her before his eyes.
"Just get hit already, you bastard!"
"Slow."
"I'm fast."
"Need to be faster."
Heavenly Thunder Infinite, born from combining Infinite Step and Heavenly Thunder Phantom Step, allowed simultaneous deployment of footwork and body techniques. In pure speed, few footwork arts outpaced it.
Yet to that man, it wasn't fast—it was yawn-inducingly slow. Enough to inspire self-loathing through relativity.
"Your lightning isn't exploding at precise strike points. Use Heavenly Thunder Skill more effectively."
"I am!"
"Slow."
"You son of a bitch!"
The strike points were precise.
It was just the speed gap ruining accuracy. She unleashed Heavenly Thunder Divine Strikes continuously amid Heavenly Thunder Infinite, but they rang hollow. She had to hit, but couldn't land. Dodging leisurely with hands behind his back only made it more infuriating.
"How long are you gonna keep dodging?!"
"Good, now it's time to strike back."
Blessings come to those who wait, so Mujin raised his fist. If she wanted to get hit, he'd grant her wish.
"...That's not what I meant."
"Got it."
Mujin didn't dodge the incoming Nine Thunder God—he took it head-on. The stacked destructive power matched the thunderous boom.
Yet it was a body certified by the Tang Clan's Poison King. By Tang standards, Mujin's was top-grade.
Zzzzt, zzzzt!
Lightning merely sparked around him as Mujin smacked his lips.
"Not bad."
"Shut up!"
"I spoke softly."
"Shut it!"
If she wanted him silent and hitting, so be it.
Fist arts grew stronger the more you took hits, unlike sword, saber, palm, or claw arts. Durability and reflexes were key for fist arts—innate for some, but mostly forged through repeated training.
Thud, boom!
Once Mujin went on the offensive, Nangong Yeonhwa could only take a beating. Southwest dodge? Hit. Northeast? Hit. Prone? Stepped on. Airborne? Ankle grabbed.
"...Don't slam me!"
Why grab and smash people like that!
You're the hammer!
"Ah, sorry. Habits are scary."
Mujin had an unconscious habit of grabbing ankles mid-leap. Seeing someone bounce like a flea irked him. Those types needed slamming to come to their senses—or die trying.
"React there. Shift angle, assume defense. Oops, bad block—gonna lose teeth."
"...Die!"
"Open mouth and it'll hurt more."
Mujin's punches continued.
It was a beautiful exchange between fist masters with calluses on their knuckles. She used to crumple sloppily when hit before, but now her angles held. She no longer collapsed pathetically. Her durability was growing.
"See? You can take hits well."
"Don't praise me like that!"
Mujin meticulously hammered until the end, sharpening her senses and reflexes. Her temper seemed sharper too, unintentionally.
"It's all for you. Won't you be Fist Empress?"
"Just hit me once!"
"If you can."
"You fucking bastard!"
Her cursing had increased.
A foul mouth made marriage tough; might need to explain to her little brother. But for Nangong Sega standards, it wasn't bad. Lacking compared to Muho, though.
She cared for her brother this much.
'Probably wrapped up nicely.'
While pummeling Nangong Yeonhwa, he briefly pondered sect affairs. Gushan Hall riffraff would've been cleared ages ago. Leftover trash would mean his teaching was incompetent. As her master, it'd piss him off.
Though it was mostly the Demon King's fault.
-Why's it my fault!
'Your share's big.'
-Shameless bastard! Your merit if it works, mine if it fails?
'That's how the world works. Truth.'
Why seek shame from me.
Mujin wanted an easy life. Clear obstacles, stay home. Then let them fight, roast, whatever. The murim rose and fell by the sword. No faction endured forever.
Thud!
Drained Nangong Yeonhwa slumped to the ground. No strength left to move. Taking hits required stamina too—a lesson etched in bone. He'd beaten her without leaving a single painless spot.
"Good work. And no better teacher than me anywhere, so brag freely."
"Is that what you say after beating a girl?!"
"I beat kids if they're enemies."
"You psycho, don't say it proudly!"
Martial artists didn't discriminate by age or gender. Blind blades killed indiscriminately. A kid's stab still pierced. Of course, not him—but intent to kill demanded equal payback.
"People have circumstances."
"If you say that after your family dies, I'll respect you."
Why should I care about enemies' sob stories.
Everyone had excuses. On death's edge, excuses multiplied. No true warrior weighed personal histories mid-fight.
"I want nothing. Just purely want you stronger."
"Hmph, think I don't see your scheme?!"
"Scheme? Misunderstanding."
"Bullshit—strengthen me to exploit!"
Thought she was a naive bear, but fox cunning too. Nailed it so precisely, no retort came.
In times like these.
"Can't I use you a bit? I'm worth it."
"Shameless prick!"
It was Mujin's rightful claim. Deny this meticulous care? His righteous fist wouldn't forgive evasion.
"Hungry."
Mujin vanished toward the dining hall, leaving Nangong Yeonhwa alone. The watching Sword Emperor approached and helped his granddaughter up.
"Too much, right?"
"Too much? Her growth is astonishing."
Heart aching watching her beaten, the Sword Emperor couldn't stop Mujin. She grew daily through monstrous spars ignoring norms.
"Still, she's a girl."
"Want Grandpa to avenge you?"
A tomboy with a kind heart and filial piety. But she'd forgotten spending too long with Mujin.
"Fight hard, Grandpa! I've got your back!"
"Ahem, rain coming?"
Her cheering felt more schadenfreude than support to the Sword Emperor. He sparred steadily with his son, but Mujin left him aching.
Truth was, Mujin went easy on her. At full power, she'd crumble in one exchange.
'He said soon.'
The Sword Emperor took solace in his old friend's visit. Sharing knowledge beat solitary burdens.
Mujin was public property worth sharing widely.