episode_0145

145. The Best in the World.

“Wa, wait a moment…!”

Yohan’s mind became hazy. He knew he was dealing with a crazy old man, but even so, trying to poison an ally!

His index finger approached closer and closer. Yohan tightly closed his eyes.

Thud-

At that moment, a savior appeared. Sima Han’s hand was stopped by someone unknown. Yohan cautiously opened his eyes.

There stood a woman with flowing black hair.

“That’s enough.”

“Hehe, your love for your sweetheart is extreme.”

“……”

Sarah did not answer. She simply stared silently at Sima Han.

But Sima Han did not budge. Her gaze was fierce for one so young, but Sima Han had not lived an easy life either.

“Just kidding. Just kidding.”

“……”

Sima Han chuckled and shook off Sarah’s hand. Yohan looked at his finger. Something that was presumed to be poison had disappeared.

‘When did it…?’

Sima Han raised his finger and sucked on it. It was a truly audacious sight. To ingest an unidentified poison so easily.

“Hmm… Oh, this taste.”

“What does it taste like?”

“It doesn’t taste like anything.”

“……”

Yohan looked at Sima Han with an “what is this guy-” expression.

Regardless, Sima Han spoke in a nonchalant tone.

“Oh, my energy channels are twisted. This is no ordinary poison, is it?”

Yohan asked out of courtesy.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

After that, Sima Han continued to exclaim all sorts of bizarre exclamations, making a fuss.

At this point, Yohan realized something.

‘……Could it be.’

At that moment, someone approached Yohan’s side. It was Black King.

“That old eccentric may be crazy, but he’s not stupid. Isn’t that right?”

“……I acknowledge that.”

Yohan was inwardly impressed. To hide such intentions within such foolish actions. It was a little surprising.

Yohan slowly raised his finger. The next moment, a blue light flashed.

Psheeeeeeew- Clang!

A straight line made of blue light shot out somewhere. Someone shouted.

“Wh, what is it! All of a sudden!”

Yohan did not answer. He fired dozens of Magic Missiles once more.

“Kuh-heuk!”

Clang clang clang!!

The martial artist gritted his teeth and swung his sword here and there. Surprisingly, he discerned and cut down all the trajectories of the Magic Missiles.

Black King muttered, seemingly impressed.

“Hoo, it’s exactly the same. To copy his abilities from when he was alive, what an amazing skill.”

“Wh, what are, you saying!”

“Your acting is quite good too. Where did you find a guy like this?”

With those words, Black King’s figure blurred. Before he knew it, Black King had moved behind the martial artist.

Suddenly, Black King wondered. Could this guy really be a spy? Maybe they were harming an innocent person?

Black King let out a hollow laugh.

‘Heh, it’s too late to stop now.’

It was too late to reverse the decision; the position of clan leader was too heavy. Once a decision was made, they had to go all the way.

“Hmph!”

Black King twisted only his shoulder blade and swung his fist. He did not put his full strength into it. Otherwise, he could die.

‘If this guy isn’t a spy, he definitely won’t be able to block it.’

If he was a spy?

Wham!

“Ha!”

“Darn, damn it! How could you!”

Black King raised his lips crookedly. He almost got fooled.

The martial artist, or rather the spy wearing the guise of a martial artist, revealed his true form.

Crack, crack-!

It was not an artificial skin mask or anything like that. The spy’s facial features twisted strangely, taking on their original shape. His physique changed accordingly.

Not the original stern impression, but a man with a playful air about him. His rat-like features were striking.

“H-Heo-eok! Who is that now!”

“Jin Sinhu! What happened to that guy then?”

“A technique to change his face at will!”

The Black King Clan martial artists who were watching were shocked. It was a very rare sight.

Yohan was also surprised.

‘It’s not just a trick to change his face. It’s closer to copying.’

In fact, Yohan was doubtful when he first blocked the Magic Missiles. That was because the spy had used a swordsmanship unique to the Black King Clan martial artists.

‘He’s probably a player.’

There was no way a normal martial artist could display such talent. Yohan felt a small sense of interest. Could it be magic?

‘I’m curious.’

If so, capturing him alive was essential. Yohan slowly raised his hand.

Whoosh-

A vivid rope of flames wriggled in Yohan’s palm.

It was not a skill that existed in the status window. It was a spell that Yohan had created by directly manipulating magic power.

Swish, Yohan waved his hand. Then the rope of flames shot at the spy like a snake.

Cheeeeeeeeeek-!

“Kkeuaaaaaaak!”

The spy, who was being miserably pushed back by Black King, let out a chilling scream.

With both arms tightly attached to his sides, he was unable to move, bound by the red rope.

Black King instinctively tried to swing his fist but turned his head in surprise. Whoosh, a strong gust of wind struck the spy’s face.

“Aren’t you going to kill him?”

“……There are a few things I want to ask. Is the clan lord not here?”

“There’s no guarantee you’ll tell me, and it’s annoying.”

“I see.”

Yohan slowly approached the spy. Yohan put his fingers on the fly of his pants and spun them around.

The heat of the flames rose even more. It was like turning a gas burner.

“Kkieeeeeeeeeek!”

“Is there something you’re curious about? Are you a player too?”

“Plea, please, save, save me! First, this! Please do something!”

The spy made a great fuss in a frivolous manner. Yohan turned his fingers in the opposite direction. The heat gradually decreased.

“Keueueueueu……”

But it was still hot all the same. Still, it was better than before. The spy’s eyes shone with a clearer light than before.

Yohan asked again.

“So, is it true that you’re a player?”

“Heo-eok, heo-eok. That’s right. I’m a player. Aren’t you the same kind as me?”

Yohan turned his fingers.

“Kkeueeeeeeeeeek!”

“I’m the one asking the questions.”

“Yes, yes!”

Yohan lowered the temperature and then opened his mouth.

“You changed your face, and to top it off, you even changed your physique. Is that magic? Perhaps?”

“Ah, no. It’s a technique called ‘Bone Sculpting Art,’ it’s my unique trait.”

“So, it’s not magic.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Yohan felt a deep disappointment. It looked like a useful skill.

‘I can’t help it, can I?’

Yohan asked a more fundamental question.

“Why did you invade here?”

“For assassination and information gathering……”

Yohan shook his head.

“Aside from such superficial reasons, the White Path is already hopeless. You know that too, don’t you? Why would you risk it and volunteer to be a spy?”

“……”

The opponent was not a typical White Path martial artist. Literally an alien. It didn’t matter to him what happened to this world.

There was no way he would risk his life to act as a spy.

Yohan urged him.

“Answer me.”

“Th, that’s……”

The spy pursed his lips. Yohan’s suspicion deepened even further.

He had been answering well so far, but suddenly he closed his mouth. It was very suspicious.

“Answer me.”

“Ac, actually! The White Path promised a huge reward! I’m sorry! I was blinded by the reward……!”

“Reward?”

“Yes, yes!”

Yohan chuckled. It was nonsense that wasn’t even funny.

Reward or whatever, it only had meaning if you were alive. Everyone only had one life.

This is what Yohan thought.

‘He must have had some kind of conviction. A conviction that the White Path could turn the tide of the war. Or hope, perhaps.’

What could it be? It didn’t seem like the spy was going to open his mouth easily.

Yohan spoke in a nonchalant tone.

“It seems like your mouth is frozen and you can’t answer properly. I’ll melt that mouth for you.”

“……Huh? What kind of─”

At that moment, the spy felt a terrifying heat rising from his waist. His head tilted back on its own, and saliva drooled from his mouth.

“Ah, kkeuaaaaaaa!”

Yohan continued to increase the temperature relentlessly, ignoring the loud screams. In Yohan’s experience, most humans were helpless in the face of pain. Although there were a few who weren’t……

‘I hope you’re not one of them.’

He was serious.

***

“I’ll, I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you!”

“Hmm, it doesn’t seem like you’re being sincere enough yet?”

“You you son of a bi…… kkueeeeeek!”

Yohan persistently cooked the spy. How long had it been? Finally, Yohan lowered the temperature.

“What’s the reason?”

“Heu, heueu. Because of the Mount Hua Sect’s, Flower Sword Master!”

“Flower Sword Master?”

Yohan tilted his head. It was a title he had never heard before.

Fortunately, Sima Han knew his title.

“The Heavenly Star…… It seems that guy has made progress. This is quite surprising…… What kind of trick did he use? Did he eat the Great Revival Pill or something?”

“……!”

The spy was noticeably flustered. Then Sima Han let out a hearty laugh.

“Heo? Is that really true? What wind blew for those stuffy Shaolin monks to do such a drastic thing? Were they that desperate?”

“……Wh, what are you talking about……”

Smack!

Sima Han waved his hand.

“Why are you acting like you don’t know? You bastard. Anyway, I’m curious. How strong has that old codger become?”

“Is he a famous person?”

“Famous? Well, at least he’s not famous ‘now’.”

“Now?”

Sima Han nodded.

“He’s a character from quite a long time ago. Most people probably don’t even know if that old codger is still alive. Because he went into seclusion, only telling a very small number of people.”

“Is it very dangerous? Enough to turn the tide of the war with just one person?”

At Yohan’s question, Sima Han laughed heartily. He suddenly shone his eyes and said.

“If that old man has reached the next realm, this much is certain.”

Sima Han’s eyes were sparkling with uncontrollable interest.

“Flower Sword Master. He is the Best in the World.”