Chp 22: Martial Test

“Just a week ago?”

“Almost, yes…”

She didn’t want to, but there was no avoiding it now.

Yun Zhi explained things clearly to the elder, with some details hidden, as agreed. Hearing her, he hardly believed it. Still, if that was true… then it’s a big deal! No wonder she wanted him to keep it a secret. If this got out, not only her family’s enemy but any big Murim clan would hunt for her. They would at least force her into a contract with them. The more malicious one might do nasty things to coerce her into cooperating…

Able to trigger a person’s potential within a week…

‘This girl… is she exaggerating, but…’

Elder Fang mulled.

It was a bit hard to believe, but this girl… had no reason to lie.

In fact, she had every reason to tell him the truth. He only needed to dig a bit deeper, and he would know if she was lying… Thinking about it, there was no need to do that. It was awesome, sure… but it was not like she could make new potential from nothing. Moreover, triggering third and second-rate warriors’ already existing potential, while valuable, would not change Murim’s balance of power. It was an entirely different case if she could trigger the potential of non-talented people.

…Which was what exactly happened, but Yun Zhi had hidden it well.

‘Elder, please don’t dig any deeper… please don’t… You’re a cute elder…’

In her mind, Yun Zhi was praying so, awkwardly.

She had already given him a little truth to satisfy his curiosity and to get all the facts matched. To protect herself, she downplayed her own achievement, giving him only a portion of the truth. Still, just this portion managed to shock him. Fortunately, from what she could observe, his eyes had no greed.

For Elder Fang, while he was curious, he had no desire to put her in danger.

“Ah, this old man truly is curious… How you do that… but, since you insist on keeping it a secret…”

“Please. The fewer details, the more people will think this was just bull… I mean, too good to be true tale. I will be safer then,”

“Hmph, worry not. I’m already so old. Not interested in others’ secrets. Besides, I already took the vow. Either you did it with a special technique or divine medicine, I’m not going to pry into this anymore. Be at ease. Instead…”

And instead of refuting her claim, he decided to test her in another area.

He still needed to check her background, some way or another.

He wanted to believe her story, but if this girl had some connection with the cult… It would be his mistake to let it slide. The Murim Security Division had always taken the matter regarding cultists seriously, so he wanted to at least clear his suspicion. As one of its leaders, it would be irresponsible for him to just believe her story without checking. He must be credible, at least.

He said;

“Let this old man test your martial prowess, your art. Since you don’t have any ID and are not from this country, this is the least you can do…”

“Elder… you’re already in several Qi layers… I’m still weak, one hit from you, and I’m dead,”

“Hmph, why do you worry so much? This is just a test. I won’t use Qi in my attacks! In fact, my attacks won’t even land!”

“Is it really necessary, elder?”

“Of course. I still have my duty… Forgive me for saying, but I need to rid of certain suspicions, so I need to at least, see how your martial arts do in combat.”

“But… why?”

“This little girl… Listen! What’s a better test for a martial artist, than a spar? It’s a form of communication. Remember, as old as I am, I’m still an officer from the Murim Security Division. You don’t have ID, so I need to check, it’s just formality.”

“It… won’t hurt?”

“Of course, like promised, I won’t use Qi, and won’t land any attacks… I’ll match my speed to yours… You just have to avoid them!”

Seriously!

This girl was too cautious, no, too afraid of pain!

While Yun Zhi sounded cowardly, she actually would not die from just one hit. However, this was too troublesome. If she sparred with him, won’t he realize about her special Jade Qilin Transformation Body? She had yet activated it since she had no inner Qi, but even in its dormant state, any hit on her would prove its existence. It would be like hitting a super-condensed diamond, even a tank round would just ricochet.

Well, let’s push him a bit more, with some cuteness!

Eyes watery, she pleaded;

“Elder… Can you spare me that… I’m still afraid…”

“Afraid? Then… Aii, it can’t be helped. You’re an immigrant with the power of at least a second-rate warrior… a danger to public security… You might punch a civilian to death by accident… I’ll have to detain and take you in. We’ll have to record and document you, then do some experiment…”

“Uweehh? F-fine! I’ll do that test or whatnot! Just don’t detain me, please!”

“Wise choice,”

Dang!

My cuteness didn’t work!

This elder isn’t as stupid as he looks!

Well, as long as his attacks won’t hit…

Elder Fang smirked. He might be soft-hearted, but he was still a veteran. There was no way he would just let her go without further checking. For a Superior Master like him, a short spar would tell him more about the person’s personality than spending weeks talking. Gesturing her to follow, the elder jumped down the metal tower, onto the ground fifteen meters below.

Yun Zhi, sighing, followed suit. When she did, she realized her mistake;

Crap!

I’m jumping down five stories without hesitation!

I’m supposed to be a weak little girl!

“Elder!”

“Hm? This child, why so reckless,”

Noticing her jumping, he moved his hands as if practicing Tai Chi, forming a gentle vortex. Welcoming Yun Zhi into its embrace, it slowed her fall down to nothing in the air. His feat, witnessed by the surrounding high-schooler thugs, made them wide-eyed in amazement;

Wow…

Did you see that?!

So that’s martial art!

So the stuff on TV was true?

Are they gonna spar?

“Ha ha, thank you…”

“Why did you jump? Did you forget your body’s condition?”

“Eh hehe, I thought elder would… Well, you did help,”

“Haiish, ready your stance. Ah, you won’t mind doing it here right?”

“It’s fine…”

Seeing the boys, eyes all glittering, hmm…

This might work in her favor.

After all, she still needed to make them submit to her. While their leaders had done so already, it was better to instill some awe into their hearts. Showing off mildly, should be a good way to convince them. She turned her right side to the elder, then lowered her stance. With her palm to her front, up to her shoulder, another hand was on standby just below her breasts.

She felt awkward. Due to her cursed state, she had not sparred with anyone in four years… Did her body become rusted? Her maid Xiao Lin did force her to make some moves, but it was far from being a spar. Thankfully, the thousands of sparring she did when she was younger did not lose its touch, not entirely… Her eyes turned sharper.

As the elder nodded, she added;

“My illness… Well, just please don’t hit me elder… My body is fragile… Little Yun doesn’t want to die yet,”

“Aiya, you worry too much! Give it your all!”

Fragile?

Yeah, right!

Fragile, like a diamond body…

Absolutely no need for that to be revealed!

She believed that holding back as much information from others, would be the best form of defense. If you share information about yourself with others, even with goodwill, some people would use it to their advantage and your disadvantage. She had felt this pain personally. While Elder Fang seemed kind, there was no telling who the people around him were.

He gestured for her to attack, and she moved.

Shaaa---!

A basic punch to the chest, as if a missile, launched from the ground.

As the elder swiped it to the side, she followed the swiping direction, changing her fist into a palm, hitting the elder’s stomach— almost!

With ease, he tiptoe-jumped from the ground, head barely passed Yun Zhi over as he somersaulted to her back.

Yun Zhi, not giving up, lowered her stance. Her legs swiped the ground several times, intent on taking the elder to the ground. The elder jumped, making a palm attack. As he promised, the speed allowed Yun Zhi to avoid just by tilting her head. He changed the palm’s direction, but she knocked his wrists with her forehead. As it happened, his feet touched her right shoulder.

‘Heavy…!’

It was a light touch, yet the weight of it… felt as if a truck hitting her, determined to isekaied her to another world. Using her shoulder as a springboard, he rebounded a few meters away.

As he did, Yun Zhi changed her legs into a crouching stance. Using earlier momentum, she dashed toward the elder, with her fist held by her other hand. Activating his Tai Chi vortex, he took the attack.

…!

Well done!

Realizing the heaviness of such an attack, he smirked;

This girl might be complaining, but…

Her attacks, are all decisive!

This is already expert level!

One’s behavior while in combat spoke volumes about one’s true nature. She had that complaining and avoiding risk attitude, but in combat, her attacks revealed her true inclination. Once decided, she would do it till the end!

The vortex, taking Yun Zhi’s attack, completely threw her off. She flipped to the side, lowered her stance, and gained balance. With sharp eyes on the elder, she decided to at least show her worth;

If I hold back, he would sense it.

This elder might prolong things…

I need to at least show something…

Something I don’t mind being known…

Racking her brain for whatever lost technique she had learned, she found it. It required a little Qi, but with her surrounding Qi, it should be enough even without inner Qi. She didn’t like it, and had buried such technique due to an incident, but… Considering its practicality, it should satisfy his curiosity somewhat.

Gathering the surrounding Qi into her hand, she formed a sharp Qi to the side of her palm…

Sword Qi!

While this Sword Qi was just of the lowest rank, it contained incredible sharpness, one which allowed her to cut through cars like a hot knife through butter. It should not be enough to harm him, so…

It’s fine.

The best it could do, was scratch him.

Like a kitty…

While she did so, she hid the palm from his vision. Elder Fang, realizing something was not right, knew she was up to something. Not daring to underestimate the opponent, he kept his attention to her hidden hand…

She dashed forward, then turned around, circling the elder.

With her speed, she was kicking up clouds of dust around him on purpose. The ground on the hill suddenly had a ring on its surface, the result of her work. Dust was everywhere, blinding visions.

What happened?! Why so much…

The young lady… she did it!

Amazing, she’s blocking the elder’s sight!

My Queen!

The thugs were excited. It was their first time witnessing a Murim fight directly.

Murim fights happened often, but not so often that just any civilians could witness it in public. What usually happened in public was pretty much a show, much like a circus, but this spar… While a show still amazed them, it was nothing compared to this. The speed shown by the elder was something else, but the young lady did not disappoint.

Truly exceeding their expectation!

Recalling her fragile look the first time they met her less than two hours ago, they couldn’t believe it. So this was martial arts! If a fragile-looking girl could be so imposing, what would happen if big boys like them do the same?

As their fantasy overflowed, the dust already gathered.

Yun Zhi already felt tired.

This might be the most exercise she did in four years… No, it definitely was. The elder, purposely letting her blind him with dust, closed his eyes. No need to stop her…

What tricks she have?

Would that pose a problem to him? How much experience does he have anyway?

Seventy years!

The difference in experience between him and her was immense. He had fought blinded before, so it was no big deal. Instead, knowing she was going to take him by surprise, he was looking forward to it.

‘What a stubborn elder… Not going all out, but…’

Observing the elder, Yun Zhi knew he had no openings.

Even against someone so much weaker than him, he had no desire to show any weakness. What a stoic elder, so troublesome… Delaying it any longer won’t give her any advantage, so she decided to just end it here. With a swoosh, the elder sensed something was coming!

His hand grabbed it—

What the heck?

It was a shoe!

A small-sized, lady’s shoe…

Swoosh!

Another one came, and he grabbed it with his other hand…

Another shoe?!

That’s right, shoes come in pairs…

The elder, being so old, probably forgot that…

With him grabbing both, it created an opening of less than half a second…

An opening, that Yun Zhi would never let go…

To waste.