Light Novel: Volu 2 Chapter 1
Manhwa: Chapter 50-51
The old Taoists eyes were extrely clouded. They were like a pit where nurous impurities had gathered and mixed together, making it impossible to peer inside. This made his gaze all the more fearso.
Anyone with a weak heart would have already been overwheld by fear just by looking into his eyes.
In fact, even new martial artists to the Outer Hall like Go Cheon-gwang and Woo Il-yeong could dare not look at the old Taoist directly and kept their heads down. They were crushed by the old Taoists qi.
The old Taoist opened his mouth again.
I asked what it is.
We are martial artists of the Jade Heaven Alliance.
So?
At Lee Gwaks response, the old Taoists voice naturally rose.
You shouldnt be making a ruckus here.
Who says Im causing a ruckus? Humph!
The old Taoist snorted.
Lee Gwak pointed to the martial artists rolling on the ground with his finger.
Isnt it because of you that they are like that?
Why would you think that?
The old Taoists dry lips twisted. It was a clear sneer to anyone who saw it.
There was no evidence that he had driven the martial artists into madness. This was because the technique he used was a spell that affected the human mind and could not be seen with the naked eye.
The old Taoists Taoist na was Go Cheon. In the vicinity of Maoshan, Taoist Go Cheon was an object of fear. It was because of his short-tempered and quirky personality and inability to tolerate even the slightest insult.
The incident at the guest house was also due to this reason. Drunk young martial artists laughed at the old master, and the old master, unable to withstand the insult, cast his spell.
The spell he cast was a curse technique that caused hallucinations.
The martial artists who had insulted him were seeing hallucinations of what they feared the most.
They would be haunted by these hallucinations until Taoist Go Cheon chose to dispel it. If he chose not to dispel them, those with weak ntal strength could die from exhaustion of their ntal energy. And Go Cheon Taoist had no intention of easily performing the dispelling.
Taoist Go Cheon looked at Lee Gwak, who had daringly interrupted his event without fear.
No matter how he looked, Lee Gwak was an ordinary martial artist. Apart from being a mber of the Jade Heaven Alliance, he was just an unremarkable person.
If it had been the usual Taoist Go Cheon, he would never have let soone like Lee Gwak off the hook. It was only because Lee Gwak was a mber of the Jade Heaven Alliance that he showed this much patience.
It was one thing to discipline the riffraff who ca here clinging to the prestige of the Jade Heaven Alliance, but it was tricky to ss with an official martial artist of the Alliance. However, playing a little prank was not a problem.
Taoist Go Cheons finger subtly moved.
He was writing characters in the empty air.
The curse of illusion.
Without the use of a talisman as a dium, its power was incomparably weak, but it was still far beyond what a low-level warrior could endure.
A deeper smile ford on Taoist Go Cheons lips. He imagined that soon Lee Gwak would be trembling and wetting himself. However, contrary to his expectations, Lee Gwak was unhard.
What?
For the first ti, a look of confusion appeared on his face.
Even though he hadnt used a talisman, he hadnt expected a re Outer Hall martial artist to so easily overco his curse technique.
Lee Gwak looked at Taoist Go Cheon with cold eyes.
Just monts ago, Lee Gwak had felt a foreign qi trying to penetrate his body. Although it disappeared quickly as if being devoured by a snake, the foreign qi was undoubtedly connected to Taoist Go Cheon.
It wasnt a guess based on sixth sense or qi sense. He had seen it with his own eyes. It was possible because his spiritual or minds eye had opened.
Having seen it directly, Lee Gwak knew that Taoist Go Cheon was trying to play tricks on him.
Taoist Go Cheons gaze turned fierce.
You brat, who are you?
I am Lee Gwak, a squad leader of the Outer Hall. May I know your identity, Taoist?
I am
Taoist Go Cheon looked uncomfortable.
He didnt like the situation where he seed to be revealing his identity under the pressure of Lee Gwak.
If you do not reveal your identity, I will have no choice but to send you to the Jade Heaven Alliance.
Huh! This is ridiculous. Are you threatening ?
This place belongs to the Jade Heaven Alliance. We cannot overlook soone causing trouble without a clear identity.
A re squad leader of the Outer Hall is threatening , a senior?
Taoist Go Cheons eyebrows shot up into the air. He was determined to punish Lee Gwak, who dared to stand up to him so boldly.
No matter the reason, he, one of the top spellcasters of the Maoshan Sect, couldnt allow himself to be overpowered and pushed aside by a re squad leader of the Outer Hall.
Just as he was about to reach into his robe to pull out a talisman he had prepared earlier
Goodness! Why are you all lying on the ground writhing? Look here. Go and talk in your sleep at ho.
Ki Jinhwi started helping up the writhing martial artists, patting them on the back.
Huh?
A martial artist, helped by Ki Jinhwi, seed to suddenly regain consciousness as he looked around for a mont and then rushed outside.
Following him, the other martial artists also seed to co to their senses and jumped to their feet as well. They looked at Taoist Go Cheon with fearful eyes before fleeing outside.
At that mont, Taoist Go Cheons eyebrows twitched.
He hadnt yet undone the curse technique on the martial artist. For them to regain consciousness on their own in such a situation was impossible.
Taoist Go Cheon glared at Ki Jinhwi.
What kind of trick did you pull?
Trick? I just helped them up because they seed to be struggling.
Ki Jinhwi shrugged his shoulders as if to ask what the problem was.
You?
Squad leader, it doesnt seem like a big deal, lets go. We have plenty of other things to do, right? Whats good is good, isnt it?
Ki Jinhwi elbowed Lee Gwak in the ribs.
Ki Jinhwi was short with a pockmarked face. He was also missing a front tooth, giving him a sowhat comical appearance. That was why the mont he grinned, the serious atmosphere in the inn was instantly relieved.
Ki Jinhwi winked at Lee Gwak.
Lee Gwak looked at him for a mont and then nodded.
Alright, everyone, lets go out.
How dare you leave without my permission
Taoist Go Cheon was about to shout loudly but he suddenly stopped moving. It was as if he had turned into a stone statue.
The mbers of Squad 13 looked at him with puzzled eyes.
Taoist Go Cheon just glared fiercely at Lee Gwak and the others but took no further action. Squad 13 mbers thought that this behavior of his was a sign that he was letting them go.
Lee Gwak looked at Taoist Go Cheon for a mont, then led the squad mbers outside.
Kheuk!
The mont Squad 13 disappeared from sight, Taoist Go Cheon suddenly gasped for air.
Huek! Huek!
Like a person who had just been rescued from drowning, Taoist Go Cheon breathed heavily. Cold sweat was dripping down his face.
What?
His eyes, red and bloodshot as if they were about to spill blood, shook violently.
Puff!
Suddenly, a stream of flas burst out from the front of his chest.
Kheuk!
Taoist Go Cheon quickly extinguished the fla with his hand, but the talismans he had prepared inside his robe had all turned to a handful of ashes.
My goodness!
His hands trembled violently.
The talismans he had prepared would never ignite naturally without his will. Their ignition ant that a much greater and more powerful force had intervened.
The thought of entrusting himself to the Jade Heaven Alliance and receiving their hospitality vanished from his mind. He promptly packed his belongings and left the Jade Heaven Alliance.
* * *
Lee Gwak looked at Ki Jinhwi, as he joked and chatted with the rest of the squad mbers, with deeply sunken eyes.
Ki Jinhwi, with his characteristic knuckleheadedness, had already captured the hearts and minds of the mbers of Squad 13. They seed to have forgotten the recent clash with Taoist Go Cheon, listening intently to Ki Jinhwis words.
To those who could not see the truth, the recent situation would have seed to have been luckily resolved. However, Lee Gwak had seen it clearly with his own eyes.
He saw an alien qi move wildly near Taoist Go Cheons chest, and then, unbelievably, the way that alien qi was being cut and crushed piece by piece.
It was Ki Jinhwi who had severed and neutralized Taoist Go Cheons qi piece by piece. It was the qi manifested from Ki Jinhwis body that had done it.
Although Lee Gwak had already suspected that Ki Jinhwi was no ordinary person, he had not realized that he was capable of naturally dispelling a curse technique so effortlessly.
Lee Gwak and Ki Jinhwis eyes suddenly t. Then, Ki Jinhwi winked and sent a telepathic ssage.
Lets talk about this in private, squad leader.
Lee Gwak nodded silently.
Fortunately, no further incidents occurred that night. However, Lee Gwak couldnt relax even after his shift ended because, as Ki Jinhwi had previously communicated via telepathy, he quietly visited Lee Gwaks house.
Squad leader!
Please, co in.
Just as I heard, your house is really nice.
Ki Jinhwi looked around the inside of the house in admiration. Lee Gwak led him to a table.
Please, have a seat.
Thank you, squad leader.
Ki Jinhwi took a seat without hesitation.
Despite having stayed up all night, Ki Jinhwi showed no signs of fatigue. He quietly watched as Lee Gwak prepared tea.
Finally, when Lee Gwak served the tea, Ki Jinhwi said with a smile,
Thank you.
No need for thanks.
Co to think of it, squad leader, you are pretty calm and composed for your age. Since I joined, I havent seen you panic or lose your temper even once.
Squad leader!
Go ahead
I was hoping it would go unnoticed, but squad leaders eyes are truly sharp.
Ki Jinhwi realized that Lee Gwak had noticed he had dispelled Taoist Go Cheons curse technique back at the guest house.
Lee Gwak neither confird nor denied it, but his deep and calm eyes seed to confirm Ki Jinhwis guess.
When Ki Jinhwi first saw Lee Gwak, he thought he was no ordinary person, but he had never imagined that Lee Gwak would notice him dispelling a curse technique. He had simply assud that Lee Gwaks clear eyes ant he was more thoughtful than his peers.
Squad leader!
Im listening.
As you may have noticed I have a slight proficiency in techniques like curse techniques and spellcasting. So, I was fortunate to be able to dispel Taoist Go Cheons curse. However, I would prefer that others dont know that I have studied such things. Of course, it might beco known eventually, but until then, I would like to live ordinarily like the other squad mbers. So, I would appreciate it if you could keep this a secret.
Before I promise, Ill ask you one thing.
Go ahead.
With your skills, you could have easily entered the Inner Court instead of the Outer Hall. Why did you choose to join the Outer Hall?
Although it was the Outer Hall, the Jade Heaven Alliance does not admit just anyone. The fact that Ki Jinhwi was assigned to the Outer Hall ant that his background had been vetted and approved. Therefore, Lee Gwak did not doubt Ki Jinhwis identity.
Instead, he was curious about his motives.
Ki Jinhwis answer was straightforward.
There is soone Im looking for.
Im pretty sure they are in the Jade Heaven Alliance, but I cant find their whereabouts, so I chose to enter the Outer Hall directly. It seems much freer to search here than in the Inner Court.
Who is it? The person youre looking for.
I cant tell you that yet, squad leader.
But I can promise that I wont bring any trouble to Squad 13 or you.
Ki Jinhwi was sincere.
Although he had not known that he would be assigned to Squad 13 when he joined, he was very satisfied with life in the squad.
He liked Seok Yi-cheon, who treated him like a younger brother, and he was fond of the Go Cheon-gwang and Woo Il-yeong, who were like children.
He also wanted to look after Cheon-wol, who practiced martial arts every day with eyes full of venom, and above all, he was curious about Lee Gwak.
At first, Lee Gwak seed ordinary. Ki Jinhwi thought he had beco the squad leader just by luck and didnt pay much attention to him.
Indeed, during their ti together, Lee Gwak hadnt shown any extraordinary traits. Ki Jinhwi believed that this was Lee Gwaks true nature. But it didnt take long for him to realize it was an illusion.
Every once in a while, Lee Gwak would show a sharp gaze, and at those monts, Ki Jinhwi would feel a chill run down his spine. Lee Gwaks eyes were triggering his sense of danger.
Such a thing would be impossible to happen if Lee Gwak was just an ordinary martial artist.
While Ki Jinhwi didnt know the extent of Lee Gwaks true abilities, he could at least guess that Lee Gwak was not just an ordinary martial artist. But even then, he never expected that Lee Gwak would notice him dispelling a curse technique.
The wise may appear stupid. Truly, That saying fits the squad leader perfectly.3
Ki Jinhwi thought of the proverb that says that a man of great wisdom may often appear foolish.
At that mont, Lee Gwak asked,
Can you really promise that?
I swear it.
Ki Jinhwi replied without the slightest hesitation.
Lee Gwak closed his eyes for a mont.
His intuition, which had developed astonishingly since he acquired his minds eye, told him that Ki Jinhwi was telling the truth.
Lee Gwak nodded.
I will trust you, brother.
Thank you, squad leader. I will not disappoint you.
Only then did Ki Jinhwi relax.
If Lee Gwak had persisted in his skepticism, Ki Jinhwi would have been at a loss as to what to do.
Suddenly, Lee Gwak cleared away the teacups.
It seems alcohol might be better than tea for this occasion.
Did I ever say I liked you, squad leader?
n dont need to be shy.
Hahaha!
SoundlessWind21s Notes:
If there are any errors, whether it be grammatical, spelling, translation, or website-related issues, feel free to let know. (`) Anyway, thank you for reading!
Go Cheon. Raws: (). g lone / lonely qun springThe wise may appear stupid. Raws: (). dzhry the wise may appear stupid (idiom); a genius not appreciated in his own ti
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