Martial King's Retired Life

“The Proud Dragon Repents,” Bai Zhiqing stated, making everyone blink and move again. Stroking his chin with absolute composure, he elaborated, “It’s the last technique in Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, a discipline that shouldn’t exist. ‘The Proud Dragon Repents’ is the misery of heaven for it grants man power that surpasses that of the heavens. Naturally, the power comes with a hefty price.”

Bai Zhiqing set a hand atop Fang Xiaoyu’s dome and transferred qi over to calm the latter. Howbeit, Fang Xiaoyu fell asleep due to the pressure exceeding what he could endure. Bai Zhiqing then instructed, “Disciples, do not resist. Trying to resist the most powerful discipline in existence will only result in harm. Just let physiological reactions naturally happen. If it’s unbearable, knock yourself out on a tree stump.”

Some disciples immediately banged their heads on trees, while some attempted resisting for a brief while before following suit.

Bai Zhiqing went back to his wife’s side and gently took her hand. “Are you all right, my lady?”

“Mm.” Lady Bai gently interlaced her fingers with her husband’s. “His skills are truly overpowering.”

Bai Zhiqing bobbed his head. “In the thousand-years of Beggar’s Sect’s history, nobody has mastered the technique. How did he mast-”

“He hasn’t mastered it,” asserted Lady Bai.

“He hasn’t? So he’s using it to bait Vivianite? If Vivianite refuses to attack, then…”

“He will.”

Bai Zhiqing hadn’t heard his wife speak with such conviction in a long time.

“I wouldn’t be able to block his palm attack, either.”

“My lady, your judgement is impeccable. Do you think they…”

“I’m not sure. Both of them practice special disciplines, so it’s a 50/50 between them. At this point, it’s no longer a test of skill but of will. In saying that…”

It was obvious what Lady Bai was trying to say based on the visible difference in health between the two contestants.

Bai Zhiqing said, “After two tough matches… he might not last.”

Lady Bai looked at Vivianite and then Hong Jiu. “He’s a man with a will of steel. There’s no guarantee that someone more skilled than him can beat him.”

It was true that very few people in the world could block the incoming palm attack, even the man Vivianite crowned as his god. However, it was only unstoppable if it was uncorked. Just because the executioner could change natural phenomena, it didn’t mean that he could finish the technique; not every soul alive could manipulate so much power. Lady Bai was right. Hong Jiu had yet to master the technique. Having said that, even if he didn’t finish the attack, if the energy he collected was to implode, Vivianite would likely perish along with Hong Jiu in the explosion. There were less than thirty metres between them, so it was already too late to start running. It was kill Hong Jiu now, or perish with him.

The masked man in the black mist strode out of his mist and reached for the big blade on his back. He strode and reached simultaneously, yet the audience saw two differently timed movements. He meandered over to Hong Jiu without giving any sense of tension. His steps were so aligned with Hong Jiu’s breathing rhythm that you would mistake them for being the same person.

“Die.” Five metres out from his target, Viviniate drew his blade.

Vivianite’s attack actually started from the moment he had his hand on his weapon’s hilt. Yet, even now that the navy blade was inching closer to him, Hong Jiu was still standing still, and his eyes were still blank.

”You’re the senior brother? What makes you senior? Pull your pants down for me to see.”

“You flipping played me again! Hey, hey, hey! Stay back! There’s manure behind m-”

“You’re younger than me, yet you want me to call you my senior brother? Keep wishing. I’d rather jump off a cliff than acknowledge you as my senior brother!”

“… Why did you shield me from the blade after all I’ve done to you?”

Hong Jiu never forgot hearing the strongest man reply, “Hahaha, real men don’t sweat the small stuff. I’ve acknowledged you as a brother; not even Yama can take you from me. Aren’t we both still alive?”

Leader, I think this is the end of the line for me.

The navy blade pierced his body, and the violent energy began to spread out inside him.

Leader, sorry for being so useless. I’ve lived for more than thirty years, yet I have yet to achieve anything. I couldn’t be as respected as Grandmaster or get “don’t-care- do-something-about-it” power like Shifu. I was never strong enough to achieve anything, not even finding myself a wife. I don’t recall ever doing anything right. But you know what? My proudest achievement in life was being your brother. I got to know a lass recently. She’s freaking violent, but she can be adorable. I’ll introduce you two some time.

Leader… Leader… Damn it. I wanted to see you one last time before I choked. I wish we could’ve drunk with all our brothers one more time. I’ve never respected anyone in my life besides you. I’m not a smart man, so I’ll do as you say. If anyone tries to harm you…

Like a dragon out of a nightmare, a hand speared straight through the black mist and caught Vivianite’s throat.

“I don’t give a damn who you are.”

The blade in his body stopped moving entirely before it started moving backwards as when Lady Bai caught it. They called him “Hidden Hero”, but he resembled anything but a hero then.

“Don’t you dare touch my brother!”