Chapter 143. First Strike, Here I Come.

When I barked at the Sima Clan martial artist…….

Strategist Gongsun Wol quickly intervened.

“Family Head and Sect Leader, please look this way.”

In an instant, all the men’s gazes turned toward Gongsun Wol.

Whether she was the Martial Alliance’s strategist or not, Gongsun Wol was a woman one couldn’t help but stare at, so even the bandits watched her in unison.

Was this why League Lord Im Soback had selected her as his strategist?

With everyone’s focus heightened, Gongsun Wol spoke.

“A sparring match is not a duel to the death. Furthermore, if resentment remains between Haomun and the Sima Clan even after the match ends, there was no need to hold this contest in the first place. I shall speak clearly. Will you promise to cleanly accept the result after the match is concluded?”

Sima Hak nodded.

“But of course.”

I nodded as well.

“I suppose so.”

Gongsun Wol looked at me.

“The two of you must take particular care to ensure that Haomun and the Sima Clan remain as allies of the Righteous Path even after the match.”

I replied with a barbed remark.

“What strength does Haomun possess? We are but a sect that takes in bandits. We are hardly comparable to the Sima Clan.”

After dismounting, I handed the reins to Jangsan, who was waiting.

“…….”

Gongsun Wol nodded.

“I shall serve as the witness and oversee the sparring match, and I shall report everything that occurs today to the Alliance Lord without omission. Branch Leader?”

A man replied from among the Hyeongsan Branch martial artists.

“Strategist Gongsun, speak your command.”

“Please arrange the sparring formation.”

“We shall.”

As if it were nothing, the man spoke to the Hyeongsan Branch martial artists.

“Spread out wide, everyone.”

“Yes.”

The Martial Alliance members of the Hyeongsan Branch quickly spread out, deploying in all directions to form a truly wide circle.

The Hyeongsan Branch Leader spoke.

“All spectators, please step behind the Alliance members who have formed the circular formation. I will warn you now: interfering in the sparring match shall be treated as the same crime as a failed assassination, and you shall be escorted to the Alliance. I hope no one will do anything humiliating, such as throwing concealed weapons, for I doubt you wish to be shamed. Since the two contestants’ strength is unpredictable, Alliance members, take your positions even wider apart.”

“Yes.”

In moments, a truly spacious sparring area was prepared.

Sima Hak walked to the center and spoke.

“Sect Leader, with what shall we compete?”

I also walked to the center and replied.

“I am the leader of a sect that takes in bandits; what choice could I have? Please do as you find comfortable, Family Head.”

Sima Hak replied with a smile.

“Sect Leader, aren’t you being too narrow-minded? Your way of speaking is quite amusing, indeed.”

I also smiled as I spoke.

“So I’m amusing because I’m narrow-minded? Let us do one thing. Is making veiled insults a tradition of the Sima Clan?”

I met Sima Hak’s eyes, and at the same time, we both smiled hypocritically.

“Hahahaha.”

Sima Hak spoke.

“Though this is a sparring match and not a duel to the death, injuries are common, so you must be careful as well, Sect Leader.”

“Let us go easy. What a disgrace it would be if you grit your teeth and go all out against a junior from the martial world whose sect takes in bandits. The other family heads will only laugh.”

As I persistently brought up the bandits, the smile gradually vanished from Sima Hak’s face.

“Then let us do this. We shall first compete with fists and palm techniques. If the victor is not decided, we may draw weapons at any point during the match. Since we are fighting anyway, we ought to display all the martial arts we have learned. I am curious as to what kind of martial arts Haomun utilizes.”

“Let us do so.”

* * *

I stood three zhang away from Sima Hak and tied my hair back.

‘My throat is dry. I should have had a drink of water first. Come to think of it, I haven’t even been offered a cup of water since I arrived here. Damn it…….’

As I stood still, Sima Hak made an unexpected proposal.

“I shall concede the first strike.”

“Truly? I have never experienced such a sparring match. Is this correct?”

“There are cases where three moves are conceded, but since I do not know your strength, I shall simply yield the first strike.”

“Let it be so. Thank you for your consideration.”

“Think nothing of it.”

I let out a yawn, then hastily covered my mouth with my left hand and widened the distance slightly. The yawn came out long and drawn-out.

‘When on earth will I be able to sleep comfortably?’

I confirmed the first strike with Sima Hak once more.

“Then, Family Head Sima, I shall take the first strike.”

The moment Sima Hak nodded…….

I casually wrapped Flame Aura around my right hand and looked at Sima Hak.

“…….”

An aggressive disposition was not visible; I had appropriately reduced the internal energy infused into the Flame Aura. Naturally, it was somewhat lower in level than the power I had used to obliterate the Namak Bandits’ wooden fence without a trace.

Sima Hak looked at me with a slightly bewildered expression.

“Hmm?”

Though I had coiled a red aura possessing an extreme yang nature around my hand, it was likely because I had not yet unleashed an attack.

Literally, I had not yet initiated the first strike.

I scratched the back of my head with my left hand and casually glanced at the bandits. As it happened, the eyes of the bandits I had brought along were all bulging as if they would pop out of their sockets.

“……!”

Jangsan looked at me with an expression of stopping mid-sentence. Seeing his half-open mouth, he appeared to be out of his wits.

Sima Hak asked me.

“Sect Leader, what are you doing?”

“Ah, my apologies. My body is feeling rather sluggish today, for some reason.”

“There is a flame in your hand…….”

I let out a dry laugh, then secretly coiled a Crescent Moon Ice Art—far weaker in might than the Mystic Moon Ice Art—around my left hand.

Like a street performer tossing and catching a ball, I moved my hands this way and that in the shape of the Taiji, telegraphing my attack.

“Are you ready? Now then, the first strike is coming in. Dum-dum, dum-dum, ba-da-boom…….”

Before his eyes, red and frigid auras swirled round and round in the air. Only then did Sima Hak open his mouth, his expression stiffening.

“…No!”

‘Like hell no, you bastard.’

I directly raised the Ilwol Gwangcheon wrapped with extreme yang and extreme yin energy toward Sima Hak and rapidly pushed it out as a palm blast.

The Ilwol Gwangcheon rotated violently in midair, producing a dreadful noise.

Crrrrrack!

Sima Hak’s expression was utterly covered by a feeling of ‘Oh, crap!’ He urgently stamped his left foot on the ground, then crossed both palms and let out a shout.

In midair, Sun-Moon Radiant Heaven collided with the palm force Sima He had poured out with all his might.

It was something I felt every time I unleashed Sun-Moon Radiant Heaven, but…….

Sun-Moon Radiant Heaven had a tendency to swallow up every sound in the surroundings for an instant. Of course, I had no idea why. I had created it myself, so there was no one to ask.

“……!”

Kwahahahahahahahabang!

If it had been Sun-Moon Radiant Heaven formed from the combination of Flame Fragrance and the Profound Moon Ice Art, Sima He naturally would not have been able to withstand it. But Sun-Moon Radiant Heaven, formed from the combination of the entry stage of the Flame Realm and the Waning Moon Ice Art, should have been somewhat balanced against Sima He.

Apparently not.

With a thunderous roar, Sima He was sent flying.

At the spot where the palm force and Sun-Moon Radiant Heaven had already collided, the ground had been gouged out in the shape of a half-moon.

Dust surged upward like a blizzard falling in reverse, blanketing every direction in a thick haze.

The moment I launched Sima He into the air, I moved at full speed.

Sima He, who had been flung away in an arc, seemed to regain his senses only when he was about to hit the ground. He rotated his body and barely managed to land.

The aftermath of Sun-Moon Radiant Heaven and my stomping step had already filled every direction with dust. Wrapped in that dust, I appeared before Sima He in an instant and deliberately stamped my foot in place.

Kwahabang!

Tiny shattered stones and drifting dust rose again. Sima He faced me with his hair disheveled and his clothing torn to rags.

Did Sima He still have strength left?

With an expression that was half-dazed, he thrust both palms toward me again. I deliberately swung the fists of both hands and clashed with him fiercely six or seven times, then drove a fist into Sima He’s abdomen.

Thud!

Once more, matching Sima He’s strength and speed, I fought him evenly with palm force and fists for five or six fierce exchanges before driving my fist into his chest.

Thud!

I did not strike him deliberately hard.

Sima He had to endure it for me to keep hitting him, so I controlled my strength.

Even as he vomited blood, Sima He swung his hands toward me as though floundering. I wrapped the Waning Moon Ice Art around both hands and deflected Sima He’s palm force, then…….

Thud!

I switched to a finger technique and struck Sima He’s dantian with ice art, then…….

I stopped and glared at Sima He.

Sima He kept staggering backward, and even the speed of his retreat was slowing.

As the dust that had risen in every direction slowly settled, I followed Sima He and whispered.

“Family Head Sima, shall I spare you? Since it’s a martial duel, I suppose I should spare you?”

Sima He looked at me with a dazed, bewildered expression.

I said calmly.

“Feels like there’ll be consequences later. Should I shatter your dantian?”

Sima He barely opened his mouth, but perhaps because of the Waning Moon Ice Art, his jaw kept chattering.

“Sect Leader…….”

“What?”

“The match…….”

I looked around. Those with weak internal force had all been swept up in the aftermath of Sun-Moon Radiant Heaven’s eruption and were sprawled on the ground.

Meanwhile, I blew warm breath onto my finger.

“You’re saying the match still isn’t over? Got it. This is the victory forehead flick.”

I filled my finger to the brim with the essence of external arts and the qi of the Wood Realm, then struck the forehead of the trembling Sima He.

Thwack!

Sima He’s body rotated three or four times in the air before rolling across the ground. I stretched both hands into the air and unleashed the Star-Absorbing Great Art, then lightly shook out my hands when the dust that was being sucked in like a whirlstorm came near my body.

The dust poured down around Sima He and me with a pattering sound.

By the time the dust disappeared, I had wiped the smile from my face.

When my vision brightened…….

I returned to a blunt expression and looked around at the warriors of the orthodox path.

‘Wow, so this is how the orthodox path holds martial duels. If they give me the first move every time, I could beat up just about every senior here. What ridiculous bastards. Why yield the first move? Seriously…….’

With a calm expression, I crossed my arms and looked at Sima He.

The warriors of the Sima Clan cried out desperately, “Family Head!” and rushed toward the fallen Sima He.

Though I had reduced my internal force, the fact that Sima He had blocked it was, in truth, remarkable.

Of course, I had deliberately widened the distance as well so as not to annihilate Sima He.

If he was the family head of a martial clan, then it was only right that he block such an obvious attack.

The members of the Murim Alliance, including Gongsun Yue, also used their lightness skills and swiftly approached me.

Gongsun Yue spoke with a flustered expression.

“Sect Leader, surely…….”

I glared at Gongsun Yue.

“Family Head Sima is alive and well. A martial duel is merely a martial duel.”

Everyone’s gazes turned toward Sima He.

Even as his retainers supported him and helped him up, Sima He sank down again, closed his eyes, and began circulating qi and regulating his breath. Even while doing so, his entire body trembled because of the Waning Moon Ice Art.

Gongsun Yue let out a sigh, then said to me.

“Sect Leader, did you truly have to go this far…….”

“Strategist, shut up. My opponent was the head of a clan. Moreover, the two of us had never fought before. It is only natural and right that we fight each other with all our might. Though the match ended up like this, no senior or junior here could afford to fight Family Head Sima halfheartedly. Am I wrong?”

Gongsun Yue swallowed once, then answered.

“You are right.”

I looked toward the Sima Clan and said.

“……I admit that I became excited while fighting as well. I was able to spare Family Head Sima only because I barely managed to keep hold of my senses while we fought. You might call it heavenly luck.”

As I said the words heavenly luck, I deliberately looked at the bandit bastards.

‘It was heavenly luck, you bastards.’

The bandits were all looking at me with a variety of expressions. In particular, the ignorant Woochun locked eyes with me and silently clenched both fists.

‘We won!’

That was the expression on his face. The bandits said nothing, but I spoke a word to them.

“It was merely heavenly luck.”

Heavenly luck, my ass…….

It was my skill.

Because I was a man who held grudges to the very end, I deliberately beckoned the bandits over.

“All of you, come here.”

The bandits rushed over in a swarm and came to a stop.

I spoke in a solemn tone to the bandits of the Southern Peak Alliance.

“Show proper respect to the warriors of the orthodox path. The fact that you were allowed to enter Haomun was not something I could force through by my will alone. Because the many seniors and juniors of the orthodox path permitted it, you were able to live new lives, so offer your respects sincerely.”

The bandits began voicing words of thanks here and there. Their miscellaneous chatter continued to grate on Sima He’s nerves as he circulated qi and regulated his breath.

I cut off the bandits’ words.

“Shut up.”

“Yes, sir.”

I let out a sigh, clasped my hands behind my back, and looked up at the sky.

“Goodness. Turning over a new leaf and living a new life is no easy task.”

I was not saying that to the bandits, but to myself. In any case, after giving my own cheek a very light slap, I ordered Jangsan.

“Jangsan.”

“Yes, Sect Master.”

“Bring the small box of common silver from the spoils and deliver it to the Sima Clan. It will be for their medical expenses.”

“Understood.”

That is the sort of generous man I am. Though, now that I thought about it, it was all the bandits’ money anyway. Just then, several people from the Sima Clan shouted at once.

“Family Head!”

Startled, I looked over and saw Sima Hak, his face twisted in fury, glaring at me with his eyes open, though his mouth would not open. In short, he was trembling.

‘Wow. That means his internal injuries are severe.’

I narrowed my brow and said to Sima Hak,

“Family Head Sima. Calm your mind and keep it at peace. Qi deviation may come for you otherwise. It was a fine match.”

In that instant, with a kuwek… Sima Hak spat out dark red blood. Having suffered qi deviation several times myself, I knew that, at that rate, he would have to devote at least ten years to circulating qi and regulating his breath before he could recover his former level of power.

I whispered to Jangsan beside me.

“What does this make me?”

“I’m sorry. This is because of us.”

“This is all you bandits’ fault. Let’s do better from now on. Got it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Bandits, of all things, when they were never in my fate…… Damn it.”

Like a true man, I brushed the dust off my long robe and turned around. The drifting dust must have entered Sima Hak’s nostrils as he was circulating qi and regulating his breath.

That is the sort of rotten bastard I am.

Ah…… honestly, I can only shake my head at myself.