The Heavenly Demon Wants a Quiet Life - Chapter 39
Chapter 39: Let’s Get Along Well
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A brief silence lingered.
The Needle Master couldn’t comprehend Byeok Taesan’s intentions.
Why did he even agree to a wager he was bound to lose?
If the contest had been about something else, such thoughts wouldn’t have crossed his mind.
But it was a one-on-one duel against him.
“On top of that, I already checked his pulse.”
The condition of Byeok Taesan’s body, as the Needle Master had assessed, was far from normal.
It was clear why the Family Head of the Golden Wall Merchants had desperately sought out renowned physicians.
Even though the Heavenly Divine Healer was already present, they had still tracked him down.
Byeok Taesan’s condition was dire enough to warrant such actions.
“Perhaps even some of his major meridians were severed.”
It was highly likely that the Heavenly Divine Healer had managed to barely reconnect them.
Judging honestly and objectively, if what the healer said earlier was true, the Heavenly Divine Healer’s skills were marginally superior to his own.
Yet here was someone with a body as wrecked as that, proposing a one-on-one duel.
“Is he trying to die in a fight?”
Judging by the situation, Byeok Taesan seemed to have done his research.
If that were the case, he must know there was a high likelihood the Needle Master wouldn’t bother aiding him if he got injured during the fight.
Yet, he willingly faced such risks. It was baffling.
“Are you planning to die?”
The Needle Master couldn’t help but ask.
Byeok Taesan responded by glancing at the Heavenly Divine Healer.
“Are physicians always this talkative?”
“Of course. As I mentioned before, forming a good relationship with patients greatly aids treatment. Sometimes, conversations can uncover things that pulse readings might miss. For instance, I recall a time when I passed by a small village near Mount Heng…”
Byeok Taesan raised a hand, cutting the Heavenly Divine Healer off mid-sentence.
If he let the man continue, it was hard to say how long the chatter would last.
The healer had already overwhelmed many with his flood of words.
“So, are you going to do it or not?”
Byeok Taesan demanded an answer from the Needle Master.
And the Needle Master found no reason to refuse. Yet that only made him more suspicious and uneasy.
The reason the Needle Master had triumphed in countless wagers was simple—he only participated in bets he could win.
Even then, there had been instances where he lost. Thus, he always made sure to examine every detail before proceeding.
After the outcome was decided, there would be no going back.
“Where?”
“There’s a training hall right next door. But if you prefer, we can choose another location.”
The Needle Master stared at Byeok Taesan.
“What do you think your chances of winning this bet are?”
“I’ll win, no doubt about it. So stop wasting time and let’s get started.”
Anyone who made bold claims like that rarely followed through in wagers.
The Needle Master tested the waters one last time.
“Let me check your pulse again.”
Byeok Taesan looked at him with an incredulous expression before turning to the Heavenly Divine Healer.
“Are all physicians cautious?”
“Absolutely. After all, treating a human body means…”
Byeok Taesan cut him off again with a raised hand.
The Needle Master’s eyes gleamed as he observed the interaction.
“That definitely disrupted his breathing… Then it wasn’t a coincidence earlier.”
The Needle Master’s thoughts were interrupted as Byeok Taesan’s hand appeared before him.
He grasped Byeok Taesan’s wrist and carefully examined his pulse again.
The results were the same as before.
“Fine. Let’s go. Let’s have a fight. Just don’t blame me if you die.”
The Needle Master stood abruptly as he spoke.
Byeok Taesan shook his head as he watched.
“Getting to a simple fight is ridiculously hard. You’re so different from your reputation. They said you’d throw yourself at any wager like a moth to a flame.”
The Heavenly Divine Healer interjected.
“Isn’t it suspicious? I would have acted the same way. Actually, if it were me, I would’ve refused outright. He only got this far because of his love for wagers.”
“Still, he fell for it.”
At Byeok Taesan’s words, the healer’s expression stiffened slightly.
“But, Young Master, are you sure about this? The Needle Master is on a different level compared to your previous opponents.”
“I can tell. Do you think I’d engage him without gauging his level?”
Yet the healer still felt uneasy.
The Needle Master had thoroughly assessed Byeok Taesan’s physical condition.
Surely, he intended to exploit it.
“That could put the Young Master at a disadvantage…”
Regardless, the die was cast. All that remained was to see how far it would roll and what ripples it might cause.
“The training hall is quite impressive.”
Indeed, it was spacious and well-maintained.
And there were people already training inside.
Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon were there.
Though they weren’t sparring in the absence of the Heavenly Divine Healer, they were diligently swinging their swords.
The sudden appearance of the Needle Master left the two puzzled.
This was Byeok Taesan’s private training hall—not a place anyone could casually enter.
Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon were only allowed to train here because they had Byeok Taesan’s permission. Otherwise, they would’ve had to use a training hall farther away.
As the two wore puzzled expressions, Byeok Taesan entered the hall.
He immediately noticed them and nodded.
“You’re not there yet, I see.”
It seemed they hadn’t even noticed that the Needle Master was a martial artist.
The Needle Master was skilled at concealing his aura.
Even Byeok Taesan had found a significant difference between his initial impression and a closer inspection.
As soon as Byeok Taesan entered, Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon recognized the Needle Master.
They had already been informed of his impending visit.
Realizing his identity, they scrutinized him more intently.
What they couldn’t perceive before gradually became clearer.
Seeing their changing expressions, Byeok Taesan nodded.
“Coming here was the right choice.”
Today’s events would likely become a valuable experience for them.
Encounters with martial artists skilled at concealing their energy were rare.
In Byeok Taesan’s eyes, the Needle Master’s ability to suppress his power was exceptional for someone of his martial level.
“Where’s your focus, with me standing right in front of you!”
The Needle Master barked from the center of the hall.
Byeok Taesan strolled leisurely over and stood before him.
“When should we begin? Should I attack first?”
The Needle Master shook his head firmly.
“That won’t do. We need to stand at least ten paces apart. I’ll give the starting signal.”
Byeok Taesan smirked.
“Another coward in the house.”
He glanced at Cheon Kyungwan.
The mention of “coward” subtly shifted Cheon Kyungwan’s gaze.
His expression and complexion remained unchanged, but his eyes told another story.
The Needle Master, however, remained unbothered.
“Better to be a coward than lose a bet.”
He strode off, putting enough distance between them. Then, he gestured for Byeok Taesan to step back as well.
Byeok Taesan complied without protest.
He could see through the Needle Master’s intentions.
The plan was to fight a battle of attrition.
By using footwork to maintain a safe distance and continuously applying pressure, the Needle Master calculated that Byeok Taesan’s weakened body would eventually give out.
This was exactly what the Heavenly Divine Healer had feared.
Everyone present was skilled enough to discern the Needle Master’s strategy.
Their expressions hardened.
But Byeok Taesan remained calm.
“When do we start?”
The Needle Master raised his internal energy and replied.
“Now.”
Byeok Taesan stood still without moving.
The Needle Master, expecting him to charge in immediately, began moving cautiously when he remained still.
He first maintained a distance, then shifted sideways, releasing a slicing wind.
Swish!
The wind narrowly grazed past Byeok Taesan’s ear.
Yet, Byeok Taesan didn’t move an inch.
The Needle Master’s footwork quickened. Circling widely around Byeok Taesan, he unleashed a series of slicing winds.
Swish, swish, swish, swish!
Amazingly, all the winds narrowly missed Byeok Taesan. Not a single one hit him.
Those watching couldn’t tell whether the Needle Master was doing it intentionally or making mistakes.
Standing still, Byeok Taesan spoke to the Needle Master.
“It was a decent plan.”
At that moment, Byeok Taesan’s figure vanished.
“This is the conclusion, though.”
Byeok Taesan reappeared right in front of the Needle Master.
The Needle Master had just started reaching into his robe for his needles.
His eyes widened in shock.
Byeok Taesan lightly tapped the Needle Master’s arm.
“Gah!”
As the Needle Master’s arm was pushed, the needle he had been drawing was driven straight into his own chest.
Panicked, the Needle Master tried to move away.
Since the needle wasn’t poisoned, all he had to do was endure the pain.
But he couldn’t.
Before he could move, Byeok Taesan was already blocking his path.
A swift step and a light shove to his shoulder were all it took.
Crash! Thud, thud!
The Needle Master fell clumsily to the ground.
A wave of pain, as if his entire body was breaking, surged through him.
Lying on the floor, the Needle Master stared at Byeok Taesan in disbelief.
Something truly absurd had happened.
“You… used internal energy? How?”
Byeok Taesan didn’t answer.
The power he had just used wasn’t internal energy but the soul essence he had gathered through the Soul Augmenting Demonic Art.
Explaining that would only complicate things.
It was best to let the Needle Master draw his own conclusions.
“Have you given up?”
Byeok Taesan looked down at the Needle Master with a calm gaze, which only added to the pressure he felt.
“Ugh…”
The Needle Master gritted his teeth and got back on his feet. He pulled the needle out of his chest.
He realized one thing clearly—using needles against this opponent was utterly meaningless.
“I can’t give up. I’ve even staked my soul in this wager. I can’t afford to lose.”
Regaining his resolve, the Needle Master glared at Byeok Taesan.
“Looks like you won’t accept it unless you faint or die.”
By those words, Byeok Taesan disappeared again.
The Needle Master was at his wit’s end. Just like before, even with his eyes wide open, he couldn’t track Byeok Taesan’s movement.
Determined not to lose sight of him, he even concentrated his internal energy into his eyes.
Yet, he still failed.
Smack!
A sharp pain shot through the back of his head.
The world spun and went black.
The Needle Master blinked.
Above him stretched a bright blue sky.
He was still lying on the training hall floor.
Next to him sat the Heavenly Divine Healer.
“You fainted briefly due to some head trauma. Fortunately, you’re not seriously injured.”
The healer’s words barely registered in the Needle Master’s ears.
“Lost? Me? To that kid?”
But could he even call him a kid?
Never before had he lost a wager so embarrassingly.
From the start, he had been led astray, and this was the result.
“Still, will you keep your promise?”
The Heavenly Divine Healer’s question brought chaos to the Needle Master’s mind.
He had wagered his body and spirit. But how was he even supposed to hand over something like that?
To be honest, he had never considered the possibility of losing.
“I don’t know. What am I even supposed to do?”
“Just in case, I placed a few restrictions on you.”
The Needle Master’s expression contorted.
“What do you take me for? Do you really think I’d break my promise and run away?”
“It was just a precaution. I don’t know you well enough to make assumptions about your character. We only met today, after all. Being careful doesn’t hurt, don’t you think? You’d do the same in my place. We’re both physicians, aren’t we?”
The Needle Master stared blankly at the Heavenly Divine Healer.
With a broad grin, the healer spoke again.
“Let’s get along well from now on.”
For some reason, the Needle Master felt a growing irritation, as if the healer was looking down on him.