The Qi Arts Master - Chapter 13
Ni Daehyeok crouched low and examined the knot around the dog's neck more closely.
“Gasp!”
“What's wrong, brother?!”
Dam Soyeon's surprise echoed Ni Daehyeok's own.
“Six knots!”
“What's that?”
“It's the insignia of a Beggar Clan elder or higher.”
The dog seemed to understand, lifting its head stiffly to show the knot more clearly. Then it trotted over to Tian Ailang, circling him insistently.
“What does this mean?”
Tian Ailang was utterly baffled; the creature rubbed against him so fervently, he half-wondered if it was some bizarre courtship dance.
At that moment, the white tiger in his arms growled low and hopped down, smacking the Dung Dog squarely on the head with a sharp crack. The two exchanged a few meaningful glances before the white tiger headed for the inn door, nodding toward Tian Ailang.
“It wants me to follow?”
The Dung Dog stood beside the white tiger, wagging its tail anxiously—it seemed spot on.
“Looks like it's connected to the Beggar Clan. Maybe a high-ranking member is in danger and sent it for help?”
Ni Daehyeok's speculation made sense, especially watching the white tiger and Dung Dog's behavior.
Do I really need to go?
Tian Ailang hesitated. What might happen if he left the Dam siblings alone? One lapse in vigilance was enough.
As he wavered, the Dung Dog approached again, whining and circling insistently.
“Hmm... Young Master Tian, are you hesitating because of us?”
Ni Daehyeok had read his mind and asked carefully. Tian Ailang nodded honestly.
Ni Daehyeok pondered briefly before speaking. “We're grateful, but the situation seems dire. Six knots means an elder or above—could be a major incident. And you mentioned wanting revenge against the Demonic Cult, right?”
Tian Ailang nodded readily.
“Earning a favor from the Beggar Clan could give you a huge edge on information for your vengeance.”
Tian Ailang's eyes widened slightly. He considered my circumstances in such a short time?
He appreciated Ni Daehyeok's thoughtfulness.
“If a high-ranking Beggar Clan master is calling for emergency aid at this level, we'd just be a burden. We'll head to the nearby Man-geum Battlefield and hole up in a safe spot, so please go carefully, Young Master Tian.”
Tian Ailang liked Ni Daehyeok's quick thinking and backup plan. His guilt and worry over their safety had been the biggest hurdle; with that addressed, his mind lightened.
“Be careful.”
Dam Soyeon clutched her skirt hem, her face full of concern.
“You too, miss. Alright, I'll be off.”
Tian Ailang gave them a light bow and stepped out of the inn.
“Where to?”
He asked the Dung Dog, which was wagging its tail furiously. It barked once loudly, as if understanding, then bolted ahead at a brisk pace.
Tian Ailang was startled by how fast it was—not quite matching the white tiger beside him, but clearly no ordinary beast.
They covered a huge distance in about fifteen minutes at breakneck speed. The village was long behind them; they plunged deep into the mountains.
The Dung Dog sniffed the air, then barked lowly at a certain spot. Rustling came from the woods, and a figure emerged.
His hair was a wild tangle, his beard unkempt, his sackcloth rags reeking terribly. He was the epitome of a beggar from Tian Ailang's imagination—except his body was soaked in blood, underscoring the gravity.
The Dung Dog rushed over, bracing the man's body.
“Hey, you okay?”
Tian Ailang hurried close. The beggar waved weakly and rasped, “We need to move. Now.”
His voice was hoarse and cracked, as if from a grueling battle that had left him dehydrated.
Tian Ailang decided to follow the beggar's lead and evacuate first, whatever the threat.
That was when it happened.
A chilling aura made Tian Ailang whip his head around. Its source emerged between the trees.
The aura was so intense that not just the Dung Dog, but even the white tiger went on high alert.
The newcomer was a man with an androgynous air. In the pitch-black night lit only by moonlight, his unnaturally pale face stood out. His flickering red eyes blended with his crimson hair, evoking an almost hypnotic beauty. Sleek skin lines and imposing height gave his physique perfect balance.
The man spoke. “Ahh~ I wondered why you were fleeing so desperately. Calling for backup, were you?”
His voice resonated beautifully through the forest, harmonizing with the moonlight.
Regardless of Tian Ailang's impressions, the beggar scowled gravely.
“Damn it!”
The beggar grimaced, struggling into a fighting stance as if ready to clash.
Tian Ailang waved him off. “You're injured—withdraw. And give me a quick rundown.”
The beggar eyed Tian Ailang steadily. His calm poise amid the prickling hostile aura was as striking as his face.
After a moment's thought, the beggar explained rapidly to Tian Ailang, who listened warily.
His name was Bang Deok, a prospective next Beggar Clan Lord. In short: while investigating Demonic Cult traces, he'd run into Draku, a Demonic Cult elder, and was in dire straits. He'd sent the Beggar Clan's spirit beast, Dung Dog, to fetch the strongest nearby ally—leading here.
Dung Dog lacked combat prowess but excelled at tracking and detection.
A Demonic Cult elder, huh.
Tian Ailang wondered if he had some cursed tie to the Demonic Cult.
Draku, who'd been watching silently, admired Tian Ailang. “Oh ho~ You're truly exquisite. A beauty unfit for this moonlit night!”
Tian Ailang scowled at the sudden nonsense from the Demonic Cult elder. Was he mad? He shot a sideways glare, and Draku grinned, flashing even teeth with prominent fangs.
“A Demonic Cult elder?”
Draku chuckled at Tian Ailang's words. “Ahh~ Even your voice is lovely. Beauty is supreme, after all. That beggar scum is the utter antithesis—it's been agony.”
“Fuck off! What bullshit from a corpse-pale freak!”
Tian Ailang glanced back at Bang Deok's colorful curse. He'd seemed half-dead, but his mouth was lively as ever.
“Heh heh heh. The unbeautiful should perish.”
Draku elegantly raised a finger, a red dot gleaming at its tip.
Tian Ailang's hairs stood on end.
“Dodge!”
He spun back with a kick, sending Bang Deok flying, while shoving the white tiger and Dung Dog aside with one hand. With the other, he hastily formed Hand Strength.
His instincts screamed that a mere qi membrane couldn't handle that aura.
The red dot from Draku's fingertip flashed toward Tian Ailang's Hand Strength.
Clang!
Hmm.
Tian Ailang grunted inwardly. The hastily deflected energy was ferociously strong; his reinforced hand throbbed.
“Oh ho~ Beauty isn't just skin deep!”
Draku smiled contentedly, spreading his fingers wider.
Tian Ailang felt his entire body tingling in warning.
“Get clear! White Tiger, Dung Dog—move!”
The white tiger and Dung Dog obeyed, dodging swiftly. Amid the chaos, Dung Dog supported Bang Deok on its back and retreated. Bang Deok slumped over from Tian Ailang's kick.
He'll live.
Tian Ailang had no time to check, fending off Draku's assault.
Kakakang!
With Hand Strength on both hands, he blocked Draku's finger strikes.
Finger strikes treated the finger as a barrel to fire qi bullets. Methods varied: simple emission, spinning for penetration, sharpening for speed and stealth—depending on the user's training.
Generally seen as weaker than flicking finger arts without the flicking motion for extra power. Though a vital hit could be devastatingly efficient.
But Draku's finger strikes shattered norms with compressed qi, boasting insane speed and force.
“Ohooo~ I like you even more. Care to join my side?”
“Bullshit.”
“Heh heh heh... Fair enough. Easy conquests bore quickly. I'll have to subdue and claim you.”
Tian Ailang couldn't laugh at Draku's words. Blocking the strikes had his whole body screaming from the qi strain.
His skeletal and meridian injuries from clashing with Ji No hadn't fully healed, limiting his qi use. Hand Strength made his damaged arm ache mildly—tolerable. The unhealed meridians were the issue.
Drawing qi from the dantian was fine. But circulating through his meridians brought excruciating pain. Gentle breathing exercises aided recovery, but fending off Draku's attacks—requiring more than basic qi—was worrisome for prolonged combat.
A Beggar Clan favor and Demonic Cult revenge were ideal, but this foe and his condition were poor match.
Still, Tian Ailang took a deep breath and loosened up. “Hoo...”
He couldn't use brain qi yet, but something would work. He steeled himself.
“If you won't come, I'll advance.”
Draku's form vanished.
Tian Ailang's did too.
Kwajik!
Draku's foot slammed where Tian Ailang had stood. Tian Ailang instantly flanked him, thrusting a fist.
Red Flower Fist.
The punch left a flower-like mark, infused with fiery red qi for swift close-range strikes.
Kwang—!
Draku twisted, smashing his elbow down on the fist—not blocking, but counterattacking.
“Kuh!”
Tian Ailang shook off the resounding qi vibrations and retreated.
Draku wasn't just powerfully cultivated; his control was masterful. Channeling qi from mid-limb rather than extremities was harder, yet he did it fluidly. This fight wouldn't be easy.
But fleeing wasn't an option. Draku wouldn't let him go easily, and Bang Deok's group hadn't escaped the mountain yet.
This time, Tian Ailang lunged first. Using earth-shrinking steps, he folded space to Draku's side, targeting vitals with Hand Strength—blocked effortlessly.
Ignoring the failure, he chained into whirlwind kick, slicing along wind currents for sharper, fiercer blows than usual.
“Oh ho~.”
Draku exclaimed in delight. “I adore fisticuffs. I usually restrain myself from the unbeautiful, but against such beauty, my blood sings!”
Draku's hands and feet blurred.
Tian Ailang and Draku exchanged over fifty clashes in a flash. Each exchange unleashed formidable qi blades, their shockwaves splintering and shaking nearby trees.
This won't cut it.
Conserving qi yielded scant results.
Tian Ailang shoved Draku back hard and melted into the woods.
Draku laughed mockingly at the sight. “Think you can escape my grasp like that?!”
Far superior qi gathered at Draku's fingertips—then fired at Tian Ailang.