Chapter 62
Cheongun barely suppressed the laughter that was about to come out.
It seemed he was sulking because he had initially opposed it and was now saying he would attack.
To think that the Blood Emperor of the world would sulk.
-I have been looking at the Thousand Faces Ten Thousand Transformations Divine Art. I think I can imitate it a little.
The Blood Emperor's pupils shook slightly.
If he changed his face, the story would be different.
But it wasn't that there were no problems.
[If you imitate it sloppily and it goes wrong, there could be side effects.]
Since it was a method of changing the face by moving the muscles and twisting the bones, if he was not careful, he might not be able to return to his original state.
The Blood Emperor did not like that point.
Although a man did not live by his face, there was no need to ruin a handsome face.
Although a secret that only he knew was hidden in his inner self, he had no intention of telling that to Cheongun.
Cheongun also felt a little anxious after hearing it.
But a good idea suddenly came to mind.
-Did you see the writing at the very end of the Thousand Faces Ten Thousand Transformations Divine Art?
[The one with all the nonsense written in it?]
-Yes.
[I didn't read that in detail. It was a story of self-pity that had nothing to do with martial arts...]
That was right. At the back of the Thousand Faces Ten Thousand Transformations Divine Art manual, there was a story that had nothing to do with martial arts.
It was a writing that the person who had made that manual had scribbled, lamenting his own situation.
It was so annoying to read that he hadn't even read it all.
-There, it says where the person who made that manual lives. Did you see it?
[I told you I didn't read it all.]
-It's here.
[What?]
-Yongcheng. The person who made that manual lived here. He lived in a place called the Baifeng Manor, and it seems the Zirong Palace obtained that manual from them. They might have stolen it.
[So?]
-Since we have time while waiting for information, let's go and find it. There might be a descendant of the person who made that manual. If that descendant has learned the Thousand Faces Ten Thousand Transformations Divine Art, he will also know about the side effects.
Cheongun looked into the Baifeng Manor.
It didn't take long. The waiter knew that place.
"If you go straight that way and turn right, and then go about twenty zhang, an alley that turns left will appear, and from there, again..."
From the waiter's words, the alley turned nine times.
Even the smart Cheongun, who had at first listened roughly, had to reflect on each one and organize it later.
The waiter, who was diligently explaining the location of the Baifeng Manor like that, stuck his head out the window and said with wide eyes.
"Oh? The young master of the Baifeng Manor is going over there."
What did you say?
Cheongun also looked out the window.
"Do you see the young master with the fan over there?"
He was walking down the street, shaking a folding fan, with a handsome face and magnificent silk clothes.
He was such a handsome man that people would turn back to look at him whenever he passed.
"That person is the current owner of the Baifeng Manor."
Cheongun looked at the young man. But a strange part came into his eyes.
'Huh?'
The inside of the wrist of the man who was shaking the folding fan was slightly visible in time with the shaking. The skin of the arm inside the wrist was bluish and had a blackish tint.
Overall, something was out of balance. The only normal parts were his face and hands.
'It seems he has changed his face. But what happened to his hands?'
The man's hands were as delicate as a woman's. They were so white and fine that he even thought they went well with his face.
But the Blood Emperor said.
[It seems he has learned a soft art. If you learn a soft art, your hands become white and soft, like a woman's fine hands. Usually, women learn it...]
-It would be best to meet him first.
It was a gift that had come down from the sky unexpectedly.
Cheongun immediately followed the young man. The young man was strolling down the street leisurely as if he had come out for a walk. In time with his leisurely movements, Cheongun also slowed his steps.
The young man, as the waiter had said, continued to turn the alleys and then entered a manor.
Cheongun confirmed the manor from a distance and then immediately turned his steps and found a Beggars' Sect member in the vicinity.
A beggar was begging on the road he had just passed. He was not an ordinary beggar but a Beggars' Sect member. It seemed he was one of the disciples of the Beggars' Sect who had been released to gather information.
Cheongun threw an iron coin to the Beggars' Sect member and sent a telepathic message.
-I am the Pacification Envoy, Lee Cheongun. Hurry and tell the third elder that I want to see him.
"Thank you, my lord. You will be blessed."
The Beggars' Sect member gave a thank you greeting so that others would not notice.
As Cheongun turned and went to one side, the Beggars' Sect disciple also hurriedly left.
The third elder's telepathic message was heard in the ear of Cheongun, who was biting a skewer at a street stall where the Baifeng Manor was visible.
-Did you call?
Cheongun nodded his head slightly and told him the situation.
-Can you find out who the owner of that manor is? And a young man who looks to be of age has entered, so please find out his identity as well.
-Wait a moment.
Cheongun looked around and passed the time.
By the time a shichen had passed, the third elder returned and sent a telepathic message to Cheongun again.
-The place called the Baifeng Manor is owned by a young man of age. His name is Jo Gwang, and he is said to be a scholar. He is the son of a high official in Nanjing and is said to be preparing to take the metropolitan examination while attending the Yundang Academy.
The Yundang Academy was a fairly famous place here in Yongcheng.
Even Cheongun had heard its name, and students had flocked from the surrounding provinces and counties.
-I have given instructions for more detailed information, so a contact will come soon.
Cheongun was able to hear the rough details in a hurry.
The third elder left, and Cheongun also left.
Since he had learned that he was living here, there was no need to hurry.
Late at night, Cheongun jumped over the wall of the Baifeng Manor.
Since he had learned the approximate location of the buildings in the manor, his movements were unhindered.
'He said that pavilion is his residence.'
Cheongun looked at the building across the cozy garden.
It was a fairly well-decorated garden.
Cheongun revealed his figure and approached the building.
At that moment, something flew from the window.
Shusuk.
Cheongun twisted his upper body and dodged the object that had flown.
Shusuk.
In succession, something flew again, aiming for Cheongun's vital points.
Although it had a fierce momentum, it could not do anything to Cheongun.
Cheongun, who had lightly dodged, stood tall in the middle of the garden.
He did not walk any further and looked at the window from which the hidden weapon had flown.
Kiik.
The window opened, and the young man he had seen during the day showed his figure.
"To jump over the wall in the dead of night, who are you?"
Although the meaning of the words did not deviate from etiquette, the tone was as threatening as if it would swallow Cheongun.
"I have come here, braving the discourtesy, because I have an unavoidable situation. Can we talk for a moment?"
At Cheongun's attitude and voice, which had no malice, the young man frowned slightly and then nodded his head.
"Come in."
Cheongun immediately entered the young man's residence.
The neat interior made it possible to know what kind of personality the young man had.
As Cheongun sat on a chair, the young man who was sitting opposite him poured him a cup of tea. There were no servants, and there were no family members coming and going.
The young man looked at Cheongun and asked.
"So, what brings you to me in the dead of night?"
"I have come, braving the discourtesy, because I have a favor to ask."
It was not a place to beat around the bush. No matter what the intention was, since he had come by jumping over the wall, he was not a welcome guest.
Cheongun went straight to the point.
"A favor? So, what favor are you going to ask?"
"I have come to ask for advice because I am curious about the art of changing one's face."
Cheongun took out the Thousand Faces Ten Thousand Transformations Divine Art manual from his bosom and placed it on the table.
The young man's pupils, who were looking at the manual, shook slightly.
"Where did you get this manual?"
Thwack.
The young man put the manual down on the table and changed his gentle momentum. His two eyes also changed coldly.
"Where do you think I got it?"
At Cheongun's reaction, the young man raised his momentum and emitted a killing intent.
Uung.
The killing intent that was tightening his whole body attacked Cheongun. But Cheongun was not one to be moved by that much killing intent.
Cheongun waved his hand once and brushed off the killing intent and asked the man.
"Are you a person of the Zirong Palace?"
The young man was surprised that his formless killing intent had disappeared like a lie at Cheongun's gesture and forgot to answer.
It was not a trivial formless killing intent that could be brushed off with a single gesture.
And he had dodged the hidden weapon a little while ago, and he might be a master more than he looked.
Cheongun asked the young man again.
"I asked if you are a person of the Zirong Palace."
The young man's one eye twitched, and he opened his mouth coldly.
"Aren't you the one who came from the Zirong Palace?"
"Why do you think so?"
"Why do you ask? Hehe, are you playing a joke? Didn't you come to catch me!"
Uung.
Kwaang!
The young man broke the table and shot a palm at Cheongun's chest.
Thwack! Thwack.
Cheongun crossed his twin palms on his chest and blocked the young man's attack.
The man retreated and spun his body. He swung his arms in the air and moved his twin palms strangely.
A white hand shadow embroidered the interior. Like a butterfly flying, it aimed for Cheongun's entire body's vital points.
Cheongun made a gesture of shaking his two hands. A white frost was slightly on his two hands.
Cheongun was surprised at the shock and cold that was transmitted while blocking the first attack.
'Is this the soft demonic art?'
His palms were still ringing. He hurriedly brought up his internal energy and drove out the cold.
Uuung.
And he unfolded the Black Dragon Heaven-Breaking Fist at the soft art that was covering him.
Kwa-kwang!
With a roar, a wave of energy burst out to the surroundings.
The furniture in the room was shattered by their attack and defense, but no one cared.
In an instant, they exchanged three moves.
Although the Black Dragon Heaven-Breaking Fist of the Thunder Emperor did not lose against the soft demonic art, it also did not overwhelm it.
The Blood Emperor's voice was heard.
[There is a way to face strength with strength, but there is also a way to caress it with softness. Try to face it with the Taiyi Divine Fist.]
Cheongun faced the opponent's attack with the Taiyi Divine Fist instead of the Black Dragon Heaven-Breaking Fist.
The fierce momentum changed like a spring breeze.
But it did not sway. The body movements of going out and coming in became much faster and softer. As if unfolding the Tai Chi Fist of Wudang, a strongness was hidden in the soft hand movements.
The hand shadows of the soft demonic art were subdued one by one.
As the young man's face was filled with bewilderment, the match was decided.
Paang! Kung!
"Kyaak!"
With a huge roar, the young man's body flew to the wall like a kite with a broken string and hit it.
"Uuk."
A fountain of blood gushed out from the young man's mouth.
Perhaps because he had suffered an internal injury, the blood that was gushed out had a blackish tint.
Cheongun did not attack right away and looked at the young man blankly. He had held back, but it seemed he had gone too far.
"Are you alright?"
Cheongun asked carefully, as if he were worried about the young man.
The young man raised his body and gritted his teeth. His eyes were sharp. It was a look that said he had not yet submitted.
The Blood Emperor, who was watching their confrontation as if he were watching a fire across the river, threw a word.
[He has guts. To not give up even when he knows he is no match. It's like watching you.]
As if something was funny, the Blood Emperor seemed as if he would laugh out loud at any moment.
Cheongun glanced at the Blood Emperor and then looked at the young man again. He saw the young man assuming a stance as if he were about to attack again.
Cheongun, who knew that there was no meaning in fighting anymore, said in a hurry.
"I am not a person of the Zirong Palace, so don't be on your guard. As I said at first, I have come here because I am curious about the art of changing one's face."
"Are you serious?"
The young man asked with difficulty and was wary of Cheongun, but he did not attack again.
If Cheongun had attacked when he had fallen, he would have been done for.
"Do I look like a person who has come to joke in the dead of night?"
"Ummm... what on earth are you going to ask?"
The young man, Jo Gwang, softened his sharp momentum and took a step back.
(End of Chapter)