Chapter 40 Zhi Huogui (1)

Chapter 40 Zhi Huogui (1)

Having escaped Chang’an, Baek Cheong-il put a pipe in his mouth.

Sizzle, puff.

The flame from the incense burner heated the pipe’s tip, and the smoke that puffed up dampened his bangs.

Even then, Bai Qingyi’s face showed no change.

His appearance was almost like a wax figure.

He seemed far too composed for someone who had lost the branch he was responsible for.

But in truth, he was replaying the scene he’d heard from the merchant.

“A Taoist. A Taoist who had a sudden attack.”

He stepped forward to protect a fool loitering in the market, and in the process, killed Yue Gongming.

Then, upon hearing they would settle it among themselves, he fled.

What happens next, who knows.

That was all he heard, but Baek Cheong-il was certain that Taoist was the cause of his branch’s disappearance.

Yet he knew neither the man’s name nor his exact appearance.

‘Is there truly no way to pursue him?’

Baek Cheong-il let out a hollow laugh.

It wasn’t that there was no way, but by his own standards, it was hardly a manly thing to do.

But the starting point itself was unmanly.

How could a man with all his limbs intact and his wits about him lay hands on a pitiful fool?

Whether it was Gu Yangjie’s whereabouts or the martial arts alliance’s dirty secrets.

Targeting such a man was a bad move.

Baek Cheong-il’s gaze returned to the bag.

“You think so too, don’t you?”

He suddenly realized his question was stupid and chuckled.

Wasn’t it precisely because he didn’t know that he’d fled Chang’an in fear of the Taoist?

Bai Qingyi pulled the paper mask from his bag and pulled it over his face.

It hadn’t been dried properly, so it felt a bit stuffy, but there was no helping it.

This face was essential.

Tap tap.

After checking the mask was properly positioned, Bai Qingyi passed through Chang’an’s South Gate.

As he walked the streets, several people approached him, pretending to be friendly.

“Hey, how long has it been?”

Bai Qingyi estimated how many days had passed since he’d fled headlong.

“About three days.”

“Then why’d you come back?”

“Why?”

At that, the man looked around uneasily before speaking.

“Why indeed! Have you forgotten what happened back then?”

“Forgotten? What’s there to forget? Do I need to be scared of that one idiot?”

Baek Cheong-il’s indifferent expression only made the man more furious.

“Did you bury your liver separately while I wasn’t looking? The Kaebang and Hwasan factions have stepped in!”

“……The Gaebang and Huashan?”

The man, startled by the sudden intensity in Baek Cheong-il’s eyes, took a step back and let out an awkward laugh.

“Looks like you didn’t just remove your liver—you must’ve taken out a tiger’s eyeball and put it in there instead.”

“That… are you sure about that?”

“What do you mean, sure? You were there too, weren’t you!”

Seeing the man so blatantly frustrated, it couldn’t be a lie.

Moreover, there was no trace of martial arts training anywhere on his body.

Not even the sour smell typical of beggars.

Only then did Baek Cheong-il give a wry smile.

“Take care of your health.”

Passing by the man, Baek Cheong-il tapped his shoulder lightly with his fingers.

Having twisted several vital acupoints, the man would likely not survive even ten days.

Yet, the man merely flinched slightly and saw Baek Cheong-il off.

“Take care of yourself!”

“You should be the one saying that!”

After parting ways like that, Baek Cheong-il’s footsteps headed toward a dark alley.

Soon, as if they had been waiting, two beggars appeared. Seeing them, Baek Cheong-il smiled faintly.

“You vermin who don’t know your place.”

Seeing the immense internal energy gathering in Baek Cheong-il’s left palm, the two beggars’ faces froze.

* * *

It had been nearly ten days since he’d stayed at the inn, Cheonji Ilhyang.

Gu Yangjeok gazed at the innkeeper, who was stroking a glossy cup and offering an awkward smile.

It was a bit disgusting.

But what could he do? He had deliberately made himself think that way.

It was an era where beggars could be mistreated at will, yet those wearing armbands were bowed to the ground.

The innkeeper was simply accustomed to the ways of the world.

Gu Yangjeok’s lips parted slightly.

“My guest will arrive soon. Bring the finest wine and snacks you have here.”

“Ah, understood!”

Just as the innkeeper hurriedly bowed and entered the kitchen.

Squeak, clatter.

A man who had forcefully pushed open the door stared darkly at Gu Yangjeok.

“Should I say ‘nice to meet you’?”

“Do as you please.”

At those words, the man suppressed a chuckle.

“You’re an interesting fellow.”

“Most people say I’m rude, but since you call me amusing, I guess you’re a bit strange yourself.”

At Gu Yangji’s remark, the man’s suppressed chuckle grew louder, and he doubled over in laughter right there.

Seeing this, Gu Yangji’s expression darkened.

“Cut it out. My words weren’t that funny, were they? And this isn’t really a time for laughter, is it?”

The man stopped laughing the moment the words left his mouth.

Somehow, a hint of embarrassment was crumpled in one corner of his face.

“You’re right about that.”

The moment that answer ended, Gu Yangji threw the cup he had already filled with liquor.

“Here, catch it!”

Just as Song Mu had tested him before, Gu Yangji was also curious about the man’s skill.

Disappointment flashed across the man’s face.

“Tsk. Playing games with food, huh?”

Thud.

The man lightly tapped the bottom of the cup with the back of his hand, using his internal energy to force the spilling liquor back inside.

It was a skill truly worthy of being called masterful.

Gu Yangjeok asked with a subtle expression.

“Seems you are indeed my guest.”

“Then would this Bai Qingyi lie?”

Gu Yangji’s expression darkened at the man revealing his own name.

“You must have some confidence in that, huh?”

“Not at all.”

Bai Qingyi casually showed his palm.

“This Zhi Hougui wouldn’t cowardly hide in front of his enemy, would he?” ”

At those words, Gu Yangjie’s lips twisted.

“So ordinary civilians weren’t enemies?”

Bai Qingyi replied indifferently.

“Hey, even if you’re a Taoist, you wouldn’t say every life has equal value, would you?”

Gu Yangjie stared intently into Bai Qingyi’s eyes as he spoke.

His composure was unshakable, yet beneath it lay the characteristic freedom of the heretical sect.

Truly, he was one of the Eight Evils of Jiangbei.

A man who felt no doubt about his own actions, who acted as his hand moved, and who tolerated no questioning of it.

That was Zhi Hougui, and that was Bai Qingyi.

‘A tiger that will eventually devour even the Black Dragon Sect Leader.’

As Gu Yangjeok’s eyes turned bleak for a moment, Baek Cheong-il wore a sour expression, as if the taste of the wine had soured.

“Hey, isn’t this a time for drinking? This isn’t the Way of Wine!”

“You have something to say to me, don’t you?”

Gu Yangjeok had thrown out the question, asking if he felt nothing for the one who had eliminated his branch.

But Baek Cheong-il understood it differently.

“Ah, that.”

A small ripple spread across the cup Baek Cheong-il held.

“My subordinate bullied a weakling, didn’t he? And you killed him.”

“……?”

“I just remembered. Yeah, that wasn’t manly.”

At those words, Gu Yang-jeok asked indifferently.

“Does that bring the dead back?”

“No. If it were me, I’d have torn his tendons and shattered his skull with iron spikes. I’m just a little disappointed.”

Baek Cheong-il withdrew his hand from the cup.

Swish.

As Gu Yang-jeok half-drew his sword, Baek Cheong-il waved his hands.

“Leave it in. No matter how poorly I managed my subordinates, I don’t fancy having my head chopped off.”

“Then we could have just fought outside while drinking. Why did you come all the way here?”

“Subordinates, you know, in your fancy words, are called ‘hands and feet,’ right?”

Baek Cheong-il unfolded the technique of the Duke of Hwang from his seated position.

Gyu Yang-jeok sensed the action with his Zhenhui An, but did not react.

It wasn’t aimed at him.

Rather…

Splatter!

Blood spurted from the severed stump, splattering the ceiling and falling onto the inn floor.

Thud, thud!

The eldest son of the Black Dragon Sect Leader.

The arm of the man destined to grow into one of the Eight Evils of Jiangbei and rival Sado Lian rolled lifelessly on the floor.

Baek Cheong-il’s complexion turned deathly pale.

“This should settle the debt, right? One stupid bastard cost me an arm.”

“…Madman.”

Baek Cheong-il, having sealed his own shoulder to stop the bleeding, laughed loudly.

Then, to forget the pain, he lifted a jar of liquor.

“I told you I thought you were an interesting fellow, yet you call me a madman.”

“Even madness should be in moderation. Where is the man who cuts off his own arm?”

As Gu Yangji stared at him in disbelief, Baek Cheong-il thought of a joke.

“Anyway, this thing grows back.”

“What?!”

Could the Black Dragon Sect really have such a technique?

As a deep killing intent settled on Gu Yangji’s face, Baek Cheong-il backtracked.

“Just kidding.”

“Have you ever seen such a fucking bastard?”

“Kha, right. I am a madman. That’s why so many followed me.”

Bai Qingyi’s eyes sank coldly, taking on a desolate light.

“You’re the madman who killed those who followed me.”

“……”

Gu Yangjie did not deny that fact.

Adding any further words here would only make things uglier.

Baek Cheong-il had reached his own conclusion.

How could one treat such a man lightly?

“It was about time we needed a tiger to watch over the wretched souls who’ve fallen into hell. How convenient.”

With those words, the fight began.

The innkeeper, who had belatedly rushed out from the kitchen, shuddered violently.

“……Damn it!”

Crash!

Everything between Gu Yangji and Baek Cheong-il shattered into pieces and scattered.

A simple clash of power.

The shockwave from the collision of the sword techniques centered on the Huashan Sect and Bai Qingyi’s mastery of the Tiger King’s Inner Energy swept through the inn’s interior.

Kugagagang!

With each breath Gu Yangji exhaled, the wood beneath his feet buckled and cracked.

Baek Cheong-il, wrapped in tiger-like internal energy, swiftly moved to exploit Gu Yang-jeok’s opening.

Time split into infinitesimal fragments.

In a state of hyper-focused vigilance, where even the slightest flicker of the opponent was not missed, Baek Cheong-il gave a small smile.

‘At least my men didn’t die by some worthless scum. ‘

Heuk Yeong Sa Sal would surely have had his neck severed by a blade as elegant as this one now.

That sword technique, seemingly graceful yet anchored by a pillar-like force at its core.

Interlocked with it, the sharpness of the blade.

“Good. Very good!”

As Baek Cheong-il’s eyes turned yellow, the power of the Five City Palace (五城) reached its domain.

Whoosh!

When Baek Cheong-il swung his hand, the wind split into four paths, clearing a way.

How much more so for his original specialty, speed?

Accelerating further along the split wind paths, the corners of his eyes stretched long, drawing yellow straight lines.

This was no mere technique.

Every one of Baek Cheong-il’s attacks far surpassed the precision of a top-tier martial artist.

A simple strike transcended sword energy, and a brutally thrust fist rivaled a sword’s might.

The air buzzed with a sharp hum.

“Impressive.”

Gyu Yang-jeok, gazing at his tattered sleeve, felt his competitive spirit ignite.

“Truly, quite impressive.”

If Heo Yeong-sa-sal was just a fool, Baek Cheong-il, despite his youth, had already surpassed the threshold of peak mastery.

So where could he find a better opponent to test the martial arts he could wield now and gauge their power?

Even amidst Baek Cheong-il’s relentless assault, Gu Yang-jeok spoke.

“Watch closely.”

Gu Yang-jeok’s sword path shifted in an instant.

“Otherwise, you’ll die soon enough.”

Eight moves—unthinkable for the Six Harmonies Sword with its six techniques.

The Six Harmonies in One Perfection was unveiled upon the martial world for the first time.

Simultaneously, a whirlwind of emotions swept across Bai Qingyi’s face.