[No title provided]
Giving someone a name means unleashing every last bit of qi I've kept bottled up until now. Holding back here means death. I exhale and inhale deeply, circulating the inner energy from my dantian through my entire body to boost my physical prowess.
"It's a world like this, after all. I won't tell you not to kill people."
"GRRAAAH-!!"
"Murim's karmic ties are complicated, and everyone has their reasons. But here's the thing—at least kill them while they're still in human form."
The half-dragon glared at the approaching 'something,' spewing qi from its core with resounding cracks. A puny insect crawling on the ground, with its tiny scrap of qi, charging straight ahead without a hint of hesitation. Unsettling. Disgusting.
The 'something' raises its staff. Just an ordinary wooden staff, nothing special. But instinct screams: That's dangerous. Kill it now.
"GRR-!!"
I kick off the ground as my instincts demand, thrusting my arm toward the unidentified threat. Dragon claws that tear human flesh and snap bones effortlessly come crashing down head-on. But I don't back away. I take one more step forward. Gotta get into range.
Crush the dog's shoulder and back with the staff.
I quickly toss the staff from my right hand to my left and smash it down between Ohae's neck and shoulder. Then, throwing my full weight behind it like a hammer on an anvil, I bring it down with my right hand.
Thud-!
The half-dragon couldn't comprehend the cold dirt pressing against its cheek. Why was it, the dragon, on the ground, with the 'something' looking down? It made no sense. This shouldn't be happening.
"When humans kill humans, at least there's a reason. But when beasts kill humans, it's immediate extermination. So hurry up and turn back into a person."
Bam-! Bam-!!
The thick black tail slams the ground in fury. Clawing at the earth with arms and legs, the half-dragon pushes with all its might to rip apart this insolent 'something' daring to look down on a dragon.
Press down on the dog's nape.
...Originally a lethal move to crush the neck, I adjust the position to press down on Ohae's back instead.
"GRR-!?"
The half-dragon thrashes in rage after trying to rise and falling again, but the staff tip pinning its back doesn't budge—like it's rooted into the ground. Agonizing.
"Does it hurt? It hurts me too."
"GRRRRAAAH-!!"
"I scraped together some stray mutt rolling in the dirt, turned it into a person with all that hard work. And now it doesn't even recognize its master's face. Breaks my heart. So come back to being human already."
"GRRRRAAAH-!!"
My hands tremble. The staff trembles. A massive surge of energy churns like waves inside Ohae's body, forcibly shoving away the Dog-Beating Stick Technique forms. A net can startle a dragon, but it can't hold one. ...Would it kill her to get caught nicely for once?
I release the form before getting swept up and kick off with my left foot to create distance. The moment I do, Ohae swings her arm at my legs. If I'd been even a fraction slower pulling back, both my right and left legs would've been crippled.
"You're pretty pissed, huh? But what can ya do? I'm not stopping."
"GRRRRAAAH-!!"
"I'm gonna keep doing this non-stop until you tire out and turn back human. No negotiations. So get back to being a person already."
I'd half-expected it, but today's events confirmed it. Ohae was a human-dragon hybrid. She had both a human life and a dragon life. I recalled Ohae, isolated and neglected in the Jegal family manor, enduring abuse.
...Maybe the dragon life suited her more than the human one. Maybe I was meddling where I shouldn't. But Ohae had smiled at me during the festival. She'd said she was happy. She'd found happiness as a human. So I'd meddle anyway. I'd butt in my nosy way. I'd never give up.
"GRRRRAAAH-!!"
Navy-blue energy poured out, as if refusing any more nonsense, enveloping Ohae's body. Protective gang qi. Damn... her growth speed in that one area is annoyingly fast. Cursing inwardly, I aim my staff at my disciple, who's already achieved blue surpassing indigo.
When a fierce dog blocks the path, improvise.
From here on, it's improv time.
From afar, it looked like a dance; up close, a bloody brawl. The cripple and the half-dragon circled each other over a single staff, measuring distance before clashing. The protective gang qi wrapping her body blocked any minor strikes now. Her physical abilities outclassed mine several times over.
But the Dog-Beating Stick Technique was an exquisitely profound art, and the Empty Brightness Fist deflected enemy force by channeling one's own energy. Mancheon switched between the two arts at opportune moments, occasionally deploying even Treading Frost Shattering Ice Palm to counter Ohae's brute-force pushes.
Exhaust her energy. The navy-blue protective gang qi was visibly fading compared to before. But Mancheon's stamina was hitting its limit too. His breath came in ragged gasps, legs trembling. Minor wounds everywhere bled freely.
Damn... trying to handle one disciple and I'm about to croak for real... No more disciples after this. Never raising another one.
"GRRRRAAAH-!!"
Gritting his teeth, he aimed his staff at the tireless, roaring Ohae charging again.
Dog-Beating—?!
As he moved to execute the form and block her attack, his balance crumbled. His congenital right leg disability had reached its limit. He wanted to curse up a storm, but honestly, holding out this long was a miracle.
The awkwardly swung staff, mid-form, gets bitten by Ohae's jagged shark teeth. She'd instinctively realized his combat power plummeted without the staff. Naturally, the Dog-Beating Stick Technique had counters for when a dog bites the staff or an enemy grabs it.
Wrench the staff from the dog's unyielding jaws.
Poke the eyes of the staff-holding foe to blind them, then smash the staff down with leg or arm to rip it free. Fitting for targeting a human vital spot like the eyes, it could be lethal. The Dog-Beating Stick Technique was meant for beating dogs, after all—treating the opponent like a mutt and pummeling mercilessly. Meaning, if you can't see them as a dog, its power drops.
His reflection shone in her rage-clouded blue eyes. For some reason, in this urgent moment, an old memory flashed by.
That day, Ohae had been playing with Chirp-Chirp in the room. Watching her joyful profile, a mischievous impulse struck, and he teased her with a mean question.
"You like Chirp-Chirp~ or me more?"
A question no kid could answer straight—like 'mommy or daddy?' As expected, Ohae panicked like a baby bonobo, then crept close and whispered in his ear.
"...Mancheon more."
Then, blushing shyly, she beamed.
Back to reality. At this rate, the staff would snap. He had to smack Ohae's eyes right now. ...But he couldn't.
Too much affection.
Crack-! Crraaack-!!
The cracking staff shatters completely. A despairing wail echoes from Tagujjang.
Taa-gu! Ta-gu-ta-gu-!! Taaa-gu-!!
(Whyyy— Partner! We said forever! Why! Why abandon me—!!)
Sorry, Tagujjang. But between a worn-out stick and cute Ohae, common sense says she's more precious.
"GRR-!!"
No more Dog-Beating Stick Technique. As the staff breaks, he deploys Empty Brightness Fist to block Ohae's reaching hand. But she stomps her true foot and spins 360 degrees. Tail attack. ...The arm was a feint. His side takes a direct hit from the log-thick tail. His body flies, tumbling across the dirt. He barely manages a landing technique to mitigate damage, but it's minimal.
Breath won't come. Nausea surges; he vomits blood.
"Gah— Kheuk—"
Desperately adapting his inner cultivation method to recover energy. Minimal effect, but better than nothing.
"Settle the mind... forget attachments... body weak... gather energy..."
Pure energy spreads through him, easing his breathing bit by bit.
"Mind dies... spirit lives... yang peaks... yin fades..."
"GRRRRAAAH-!!"
Ohae wails. Not rage-filled this time. A pained cry, as if erasing something. At the core of her navy-blue energy, a tiny pure energy ripples like ink in water, disrupting the yin qi. Faint, but he knows it—the energy Ohae builds training the Quanzhen Orthodox Inner Cultivation Method.
...Could Daoist inner energy dispel the yin qi? No time for theory. No room to be picky. Any chance, however slim, he had to seize it.
Plan: simple. Mount Ohae. Whisper the Quanzhen Orthodox Inner Cultivation Method incantation in her ear nonstop. Cover her mouth to keep the sound from drowning out. The ultimate cat-bell-hanging gamble. All or nothing.
Forcing himself up, he eyes Ohae. Now or never. For her sake, he'd risk his life... well, not quite. He glances at his left arm. Yeah, the left arm he could spare.
Strips off his outer robe and wraps it around his left arm. Probably not much protection, but better than bare skin. Concentrates inner energy in his left leg, unleashing Golden Goose Skill. Kicks off, soaring like a goose. Leaps toward the branch right above Ohae. Shifts center of gravity for a 180-degree spin. Kicks the now-landing branch for propulsion, diving down to crush atop her.
"GRRAAAH-!?"
"I'm not trying to hurt you! Stay still!!"
He forcibly mounts the thrashing Ohae's back and secures position. Tiger's back... no, dragon. Mount successful. Now for resolve. Shoves his cloth-wrapped left arm into her snapping, roaring jaws. Cloth tears; teeth sink into flesh. Feels like red-hot nails hammered in. Brutal. Beyond brutal.
Left arm soaks in blood. He endures the pain. Screaming now would waste the effort to seal her mouth. Hold it together.
"Settle the mind... forget attachments... body weak... gather energy..."
"...!!!"
"Mind dies... spirit lives... yang peaks... yin fades!"
Thud! A dull impact—his back slams a tree. She bucks, claws, thrashes every trick to dislodge the clingy rider. Go ahead~ keep raging~ die if you must~ already all-in~
"Settle the mind... forget attachments... body weak... gather energy..."
"Mind dies... spirit lives... yang peaks... yin fades..."
Enduring agony, patiently chanting, hoping his words reach her. You like me... said I'm the best in the world... so snap out of it... please... quick...
Snapping to, she found herself in the forest. Body ached, head throbbed. Felt like a nasty nightmare. Ohae glanced around woozily, then spotted the 'something' slumped against a tree trunk... No. Mancheon.
She spotted Mancheon. His usual silk robes were rags; not a single unscathed spot on his body. And his left arm... his left arm... Everything came back. Chirp-Chirp's death, the black snake's laughter, Mancheon appearing to block her.
...She'd done that to him. She'd wounded him. No right to cry or grieve, yet tears flowed. Wanted to approach Mancheon, but couldn't.
...What do I do now? How do I ask forgiveness? Please tell me. Teach me like always what I don't know. Praise me. Scold me. Pet me. Words swirled, but her throat choked them back.
...He blinks his eyes open, regaining consciousness. Must've blacked out briefly. A girl with ocean-blue eyes like morning sea sheds pearl tears, sobbing. Finally calmed her down, and now she's bawling again. What a handful.
He raises his relatively intact right hand, beckoning her closer. Ohae's eyes widen. With trembling, cautious steps, she approaches. The nearer she gets, the clearer his wounds; her face darkens. Through blurry vision, he leans down to meet her gaze. Their eyes lock. Her blue eyes dart between his left hand and wounds, lost.
Leave her like this, and she'll burst into tears. Already dying of pain here. If she wails loudly, his head'll split and he might actually die. He pulls her head to his chest, hiding the unsightly wounds from her incompetent master. Embraces her shaking form. Wished he could use his left arm too, but it won't move. Still attached, but no sensation. With right arm alone, he hugs fiercely enough to still her quaking, to crush her if he weren't careful.
And delivers the iconic line.
"Nothing happened."