Genius Martial Arts Trainer

Pai Jinsheng once again recalled the moment when he had held talks with the Leader of the Zhengmu League and the Heavenly Demon.

- As you already know, the imperial family is most wary of the martial world uniting as one.

To be precise, he recalled the contents the Leader of the Zhengmu League had conveyed through Wisdom Light Heart-Speech.

- Conversely, if we act as though we are about to fight one another, they are highly likely to watch the situation from the sidelines. Just as they did in the past.

After that, he had added several more detailed proposals, but the largest framework ultimately came down to this.

“It was a plan to deceive the imperial family by pretending that the peace agreement between the three great powers had broken down.”

With only that simple explanation from Pai Jinsheng, Baek Gahwan was able to grasp the Zhengmu League’s intent.

“So that is why you fought there? To deceive the eyes and ears of the imperial family, who may have infiltrated the area?”

“You guessed exactly right. Rather than merely announcing in words that the peace agreement has ended, would it not be far more certain if the heads of the three great powers personally fought one another?”

“Then I will first tell our subordinates to shift into wartime readiness. However, I will also tell them to avoid acts such as seeking out enemy territory, so that war does not actually break out. As the justification, it should be enough to explain that if we move first for no reason, there is a risk we will be attacked from both sides by the righteous faction and the Demon Cult.”

“Hehehe. Strategist Baek truly is quick-witted, so it makes things easy.”

Pai Jinsheng nodded, looking satisfied.

At that moment, Dao Yuechen, who had been listening closely to their conversation, spoke with a solemn expression.

“In any case, I am truly relieved that you are unharmed, Society Leader. If this is ultimately going to lead into a lull, I will be taking my leave now. Because I moved urgently after hearing news of you, there is a matter I have not yet dealt with.”

“You must not overdo it either, little brother.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Dao Yuechen, who showed his respect with a cupped-fist salute, turned and left the room.

As he looked at Dao Yuechen’s back, which at a glance seemed indifferent, Pai Jinsheng wore a dependable expression.

'It truly is fortunate that my little brother is here.'

He had felt it since before, but through this meeting, he had realized it with certainty.

The Leader of the Zhengmu League was a monster.

The Heavenly Demon was also a man of extraordinary talent and had reached an overwhelming realm, but the Leader of the Zhengmu League felt a little different.

Was it because he was a man who had become strong through a method different from what martial artists generally called “martial arts”? He was an opponent who gave off an somehow incomprehensible feeling.

How should he put it?

Leaving aside whether he was stronger or weaker than himself, he was an existence for whom no way to kill him came to mind. Rather than a human, he seemed closer to some bizarre being of brute force and divine strangeness.

One might naturally wonder why a monster of that level feared an invasion by the imperial family, but Pai Jinsheng could guess the reason without much difficulty.

No matter how much he possessed the Indestructible Vajra Body, handled protective aura, and obtained limitless internal power through natural energy, the Leader of the Zhengmu League was not invincible.

Because in any case, as long as he was human, he had to sleep, drink water, and eat food.

If the empire’s million-strong army surrounded the Leader of the Zhengmu League and harassed him day and night for ten days through rotating attacks, then the Leader of the Zhengmu League, unable to sleep, unable to eat, and unable to drink, would have no choice but to collapse.

However, the Leader of the Zhengmu League was not trying to avoid the imperial family’s intervention because he feared such a case.

'He is not afraid of dying himself.'

It was likely because of the relationships he had built while rising to the position of Leader of the Zhengmu League, and after taking that position.

Because if the imperial family stepped forward, there was a high possibility that they would kill people connected to the Leader of the Zhengmu League or take them hostage and threaten him.

People connected to the Zhengmu League, the Tianliu Merchant Association, or Shaolin, that was.

As Pai Jinsheng imagined that sight, he shuddered without realizing it.

Because he had imagined the sight of the Leader of the Zhengmu League running wild after his precious ties had died.

The empire’s million-strong army would trap him through rotating attacks for ten days and nights and dry him to death?

Put another way, if he were not trapped. If he fought only through guerrilla warfare and surprise attacks, it meant that the Leader of the Zhengmu League alone could kill even a million-strong army.

'The entire Central Plains may truly be dyed in blood.'

Perhaps the Leader of the Zhengmu League might even be able to storm into the Forbidden City alone and take the emperor’s head.

As Pai Jinsheng imagined the Leader of the Zhengmu League drenched in blood, he soon realized his own disgrace.

They may have been in a relationship somewhat resembling an alliance for now, but even so, to feel fear toward the head of an opposing force.

'It seems I should slowly prepare to step down from the position of Society Leader.'

Thinking so, Pai Jinsheng recalled the back of Dao Yuechen, who had just left the room a moment ago.

Two years after the war.

At some point, his sworn younger brother had become stronger than him.

On the other hand, he himself was already several moves behind not only the Leader of the Zhengmu League, but even the Heavenly Demon.

Even in the battle at the meeting place this time, Pai Jinsheng had been able to get out unharmed only because the Leader of the Zhengmu League and the Heavenly Demon had appropriately held back for the sake of the performance.

'At least if it is Yuechen, he should not be pushed back so easily by the Leader of the Zhengmu League or the Heavenly Demon.'

Pai Jinsheng thought.

That it was truly fortunate that a talent like Dao Yuechen had appeared in the evil faction.

He still did not know.

The fact that Dao Yuechen was an ardent follower of Mujin.

***

Sandu County, Guizhou Province.

That was the place Dao Yuechen, who had left the room after a short conversation with Pai Jinsheng, the leader of the Southern Heavenly Society, arrived two days later.

Unlike when he had left first under the pretext that he had an assigned duty, Dao Yuechen entered Sandu County at a leisurely pace.

It was evening, with the sun setting and the sky dyed vermilion.

Though Dao Yuechen had come to Sandu County for the first time, he headed toward the downtown area as though familiar with it.

Because he had spent several years in the evil faction, he could tell instinctively. Which way one had to go in a village or city to reach the pleasure district.

Sure enough, just as Dao Yuechen had expected, before long a vulgar street revealed itself before his eyes.

Women wearing clothes that showed off their figures, or women reeking heavily of powder, twisted their bodies in front of taverns as they solicited customers.

Even though it was early evening, drunken men staggered up and down the street.

At the entrances of taverns, or here and there at the mouths of alleys, rough-looking men stood as though keeping watch, and the unique atmosphere of a red-light district greeted Dao Yuechen.

Dao Yuechen approached the largest and most dazzling building among them.

Of course, since Sandu County was not a large city, it was only big and splendid compared to the surrounding courtesan houses. It was not an especially tremendous courtesan house.

“Hahaha. Welcome, great hero! Whom have you come to meet?”

A sly-looking middle-aged man greeted Dao Yuechen as he entered through the doorway.

He had not recognized Dao Yuechen and called him great hero. He simply called anyone who came that.

Naturally, Dao Yuechen also knew that fact, so he showed no sign of fluster.

“I came to enjoy the atmosphere, so assign me anyone.”

As Dao Yuechen said that and casually slipped several silver coins to the man, greed entered the man’s eyes.

“Yes, sir! I will escort you upstairs myself!”

Perhaps this place also divided its guests by rank in its own way, because he guided Dao Yuechen to the top floor, the fourth floor.

It was a room that gave off an atmosphere similar to the special room where he had met Pai Jinsheng two days ago.

“What shall we do about food and drink?”

“Bring in a suitable amount.”

At Dao Yuechen’s terse answer, the sly-looking man who had guided him bowed with a deferential posture and left the room.

And before long, women carrying food and alcohol appeared and began filling the table.

While placing the food and alcohol on the table, in the process of bending their upper bodies or bending their legs, their bare skin would appear little by little.

It was a trick to be chosen by the guest, but Dao Yuechen merely looked at the moon shining beyond the window, as though he had no interest at all.

And just as the women who had finished setting the table were about to leave while trying hard to hide their disappointed expressions.

“I think this woman will be enough as my drinking companion.”

Dao Yuechen pointed to one of the women who had been setting the drinking table.

The woman skillfully held back the corners of her mouth from rising.

It was not a smile of joy at being chosen.

'Hmph. Men.'

He had acted as though he had no interest in women, but in the end, there was no doubt that lust had been stirred by the bare skin she had shown him.

Well, if he had no interest in such things to begin with, there was no way he would have come to a courtesan house like this.

In the end, he was probably just an inexperienced man who did not know how to handle women well and was acting as though he were detached from them.

And as a courtesan of a pleasure house, she had dealt with countless men like that.

Instead of clinging close from the beginning, she kept a slight distance and poured Dao Yuechen’s wine.

Inexperienced men were bound to be startled if one suddenly clung to them.

One had to keep him company over drinks, exchange conversation little by little, naturally grow closer, subtly show glimpses of bare skin, and gradually increase the moments when skin brushed against skin, making the other person unable to come to his senses.

Because while the other person could not come to his senses, she could keep making him drink, and once he became drunk and completely unable to think straight, she would be able to raise even greater sales.

Whether he knew what was inside her mind or not, Dao Yuechen suitably responded to her coquettish tone and accepted the wine she poured.

How many cups of wine had he drunk like that?

Before he knew it, Dao Yuechen’s eyes had loosened slightly, and the courtesan was already pouring wine while pressing her body completely against him.

Several empty wine bottles were already rolling across the table, and each time she moved, he could feel her flesh beyond the thin clothing.

Then, as Dao Yuechen took a sip of the newly poured wine, his eyebrow twitched.

Thud.

At that moment, the courtesan who had been pressing her body against Dao Yuechen suddenly collapsed.

And Dao Yuechen, whose eyes had somehow returned to clarity, rose from his seat as if nothing had happened and left the room.

“G-Great hero? Are you already leaving?”

“I have enjoyed the night sky enough, so I shall be going back now.”

“What happened to Aenghui? No, what happened to the girl who was attending your drinks, great hero?”

“Perhaps she drank too much, because she fell asleep just now.”

“.......”

At Dao Yuechen’s lie, the man’s face rapidly crumpled.

However, perhaps because he still had some experience in his own way, the man quickly restored his expression and said,

“Three bottles of top-grade Dukang wine and one bottle of top-grade Shaoxing wine. In addition to that.......”

The man rattled off the prices of the food and wine Dao Yuechen had eaten and drunk today.

Dao Yuechen knew. That there had been nothing top-grade among the wines he had drunk. The truth was that all of it had been cheap liquor.

Starting from the fourth bottle, they had even gone so far as to water down the alcohol before serving it, and he had even known that the woman attending his drinks had sent signals in between to inform them how drunk he was.

Nevertheless, Dao Yuechen paid the amount the man had inflated by easily ten times as it was.

Several years spent in the evil faction.

He knew that this was the way people lived in the territory of the evil faction.

In a world ruled by corrupt officials, fists were closer than the law, so it was a world where the one who got fooled was at fault.

And Dao Yuechen, who had come to Sandu County for a purpose, willingly let himself fall for the other party’s tricks.

After finishing the payment, Dao Yuechen walked the night streets even after leaving the tavern.

He stopped by a gambling house and spent a little time there, and he also walked through dark alleys, receiving the gazes of rough-looking men.

Then, at some point.

“P-please, give me just a little more time.”

Late at night. From somewhere near the mouth of an alley, a woman’s voice could be heard.

“You bitch. [N O V E L I G H T] Do you really think you can pay back the debt your father owed with noodles as worthless as the ones you make?”

“No matter how much you sell, forget paying back the debt—you cannot even pay the interest.”

As though drawn by the coarse voices of the men that followed, Dao Yuechen approached the direction from which the sound was coming.

“Hehehe. So you should slowly give up now. Working as a courtesan is not as bad as you think. Hehehe.”

“Of course. You enjoy wine every night and climb on top of men. What could be better than that?”

“If you have no experience yet, I shall teach you. Kuhahaha!”

Just by listening to the filthy words of the men surrounding the woman, it was not difficult to infer the situation.

And after grasping the circumstances, Dao Yuechen advanced toward the source of the sound.

Originally, the reason Dao Yuechen had come to Sandu County was not to go in and out of courtesan houses or enjoy entertainment.

It was because a certain report had been sent up to the Southern Heavenly Society.

Starting with pickpocketing, to overcharging people by using courtesans, or running gambling boards.

The Southern Heavenly Society, as the ruler of the evil faction, permitted all of that, but there were only two things it absolutely forbade.

Those two things were drugs and human trafficking.

And the last cup of wine Dao Yuechen had drunk at the courtesan house had contained drugs. Because he had confirmed this, after finishing his business, Dao Yuechen had left the courtesan house without regret.

And now, following that, there were even signs of human trafficking.

Having grasped both circumstances, Dao Yuechen had already arrived at the source of the sound.

“Who the hell are you!”

“Hehehe. If you just pretend you did not see anything and pass by, we will spare your life.”

Even at the words the men spat out foully after discovering Dao Yuechen, there was not the slightest change in his expression.

Only.

Slice.

The black blade, drawn without any warning, merely created an eerie cutting sound.