Hua Sochen recounted the incident when she had encountered the Mara Thunder Buddha on Mount Gongga.
She said that on that day, Banjeok Myeong had risked danger to protect her and had fallen below the ice valley with the Mara Thunder Buddha, and after a long time, only Banjeok Myeong had come up.
"At that time, Myung said that the Mara Thunder Buddha was dead."
At Hua Sochen's words, Yuexiang just blinked her surprised eyes.
On the other hand, Tang Huazhong seemed to be thinking deeply about something.
"The Mara Thunder Buddha is dead, and those three people must have done something at the Thunder Buddha Temple."
It meant that the information and analysis of the Hao Sect were roughly correct.
"He said they brought something."
At Hua Sochen's words, Tang Huazhong and Yuexiang looked at her.
"On that day, the Meat Monk asked if they had stormed the Thunder Buddha Temple, and the Black Night God said that he had brought something at the request of the head of the Grand Secret Pavilion."
"The Black Night God?"
"Yes."
At Hua Sochen's answer, Yuexiang nodded her head.
"The answer is out. The three people, including the Black Night God, stole something important from the Thunder Buddha Temple, and at that time, the Mara Thunder Buddha pursued the three people. Then he met Young Hero Ban and was killed, and in the end, the Thunder Buddha Temple, which had found the body of the Mara Thunder Buddha, came to invade."
Tang Huazhong nodded his head.
But he soon expressed his doubt.
"That much seems to be correct. The problem is whether it is a coincidence that they are coming towards A'an."
"When Fairy Mei received treatment here, was it done in secret?"
Yuexiang asked Hua Sochen instead of answering.
"No. She stayed here freely until the end of winter."
"The answer is out, isn't it?"
"I see."
Tang Huazhong nodded his head.
The answer was out. The Thunder Buddha Temple was heading to the Hua Family Clinic to ask about the whereabouts of Fairy Mei.
Tang Huazhong's face became heavy.
He had hoped it was just a passing route, but it was certain that it was not.
At this time, Hua Sochen stood up from her seat.
When Tang Huazhong looked at her, Hua Sochen frowned and said.
"The Black Night God is here."
A moment later.
Hua Sochen brought the Black Night God.
The Black Night God, who was in the Longevity Garden to watch Banjeok Myeong, felt a sense of unnecessary caution when he saw the hardened faces of Tang Huazhong and Yuexiang.
"I am Tang Huazhong. I have always heard of the exploits of Senior Black Night God."
"I don't know what to do with the praise of the Tang Family Head. I am the Black Night God."
"This is the Sichuan branch head of the Hao Sect."
"I am Yuexiang."
"Ah! Nice to meet you. But I am curious about the reason for calling this old man."
"Please sit down first."
At the words to sit down, the Black Night God was somewhat relieved.
When everyone was seated, Tang Huazhong said bluntly.
"You brought something from the Thunder Buddha Temple?"
"......!"
Surprise and caution appeared on the Black Night God's face.
Tang Huazhong fixed his gaze on the Black Night God and said.
"Right next to you, senior, is Sochen, who knows no martial arts."
"Hmph, I haven't lived so despicably. Besides, the Hua Family Head is a person who has bestowed a favor."
"The reason I just sat Sochen in that seat is because I trust you, senior."
At Tang Huazhong's words, the Black Night God finally let down his guard. But before he could be relieved, a shock came.
"The Thunder Buddha Lord is coming here."
"......!"
"You, senior, brought something from the Thunder Buddha Temple, and the Mara Thunder Buddha who was chasing you was killed by Myung. The Thunder Buddha Lord, who has found the body of the Mara Thunder Buddha, has found out that Fairy Mei received treatment at the Hua Family Clinic and is on his way to invade."
The Black Night God could not say anything and was flustered, looking at the three people alternately.
"I don't want to know what you took from the Thunder Buddha Temple. It's too late to ask for help from Tianlian. Fortunately, since you, senior, are here, I believe you will fight with us."
When Tang Huazhong heard that the Black Night God was at the clinic, he did not think of anything else. He just hoped that the Black Night God would fight with them. Because someone like the Black Night God would be a considerable help.
On top of that, there were also the three people, including the Meat Monk, so if Qingcheng, to whom he had sent a person on the way, came, he thought he could somehow block them.
'The problem is the Thunder Buddha Lord... can we face him? Since Myung said he killed the Mara Thunder Buddha, if he joins forces with that brat...'
Even while staring at the Black Night God, Tang Huazhong was thinking such thoughts in his head.
Since the Black Night God had a strong sense of justice and had even received help from the clinic, it was clear that he would not turn a blind eye.
"It's a way to repay the favor even a little, so of course I must fight with you. Have you contacted Qingcheng?"
"Yes. Unless something happens in Qingcheng, they will come."
"Then well... we can somehow face the Ma'ai Blood Buddha and the blood monks."
"Yes. That is also my judgment. But the problem is the Thunder Buddha Lord..."
"Myung, we can leave it to that child."
"......!"
Tang Huazhong looked at him with a puzzled expression.
It was not fitting for someone like the Black Night God to casually say that he would leave the task of facing the Thunder Buddha Lord to the young Myung.
Even if Myung was strong enough to kill the Mara Thunder Buddha, it was not something a martial arts senior could easily say. Because it was clearly different from saying let's fight together.
'What is it? He's looking at Myung... in a bad way!'
When Tang Huazhong stared at him, the Black Night God coughed and said.
"Ahem! Since he's strong enough to kill the Mara Thunder Buddha, he's much stronger than me."
"You say it as if you're jealous."
"Jealous?"
"I suppose not. Then what is it?"
The Black Night God, who had been offended by the word 'jealousy', shut his mouth when Tang Huazhong wore an expression as if he had sensed something.
"Senior."
"That's enough. When the fight breaks out, I will lay down my life and protect the clinic. If there is nothing more to say, I will leave now."
The Black Night God stood up.
Tang Huazhong could not stop him and ask.
When the Black Night God left like that, the three were left with a lot of questions and were silent for a while.
They all thought about it in various ways, but they could not even guess the reason for the appearance the Black Night God had shown at the end.
"Let's ask Young Hero Ban."
After a long time, Yuexiang said.
When Banjeok Myeong came, he was offered a seat.
It was the seat where the Black Night God had sat.
"The Thunder Buddha Lord is leading the blood monks of the Thunder Buddha Temple and is heading to the clinic."
Tang Huazhong said.
Banjeok Myeong showed a somewhat surprised expression.
"Is it because I killed the Mara Thunder Buddha?"
Tang Huazhong nodded his head and explained from the beginning that the three people, including the Black Night God, had stolen something from the Thunder Buddha Temple.
"So it's not because of you. We can't blame Senior Black Night God either. Because he was just following the order that came down from Tianlian."
Banjeok Myeong did not say much.
But at the word 'Tianlian', a sharp anger welled up inside him.
"The reason I called you is to let you know that we need your help, and because I have something to ask."
"......?"
"When you killed the Mara Thunder Buddha, was it luck?"
"Are you curious about my martial arts skills?"
"Yes. The Thunder Buddha Lord is a master I cannot handle alone."
Banjeok Myeong did not know how strong the Thunder Buddha Lord was. He needed a suitable comparison. He thought of the Cold-Blooded God. He had heard that he was a former ten great masters of the unorthodox faction. He was in a similar position to the Thunder Buddha Lord. And the Sword Saint of the Blue Sky.
In fact, killing the Sword Saint of the Blue Sky was partly due to luck and the compatibility of martial arts. Perhaps the fact that the Sword Saint of the Blue Sky knew nothing about the Hundred Strikes Art had a great influence.
But the really important point was not that. The really important part was that he had fought a fierce bloody battle with him. Because it meant he was qualified to fight him. He could fight with the other Six Orthodox Heavens as much as he wanted.
The Six Orthodox Heavens were the strongest of this era.
That would mean that he could fight with the Thunder Buddha Lord as much as he wanted.
"I will face him."
At Banjeok Myeong's words, the three showed surprised expressions.
"It sounds like you are confident."
Tang Huazhong stared at Banjeok Myeong. Yuexiang also waited for Banjeok Myeong's reaction. Only Hua Sochen just nodded her head.
"The clinic is my everything. No matter who invades, I will definitely block them."
"Are you confident?"
Tang Huazhong asked more directly.
"I will fight even if I'm not confident."
Banjeok Myeong was avoiding a direct answer.
Tang Huazhong frowned.
'You brat, are you wary of me?'
He didn't feel good. But it was not something he couldn't understand.
Because there was nothing more foolish in the martial world than revealing all of one's martial arts.
"The Black Night God said that you could block the Thunder Buddha Lord."
Banjeok Myeong's eyes widened.
Then, for a moment, a coldness flashed, and then he became calm.
'As expected, there's something between the two.'
'I think there's a bigger problem than the Thunder Buddha Lord.'
Tang Huazhong and Yuexiang looked at each other and exchanged glances.
But no matter how they thought about it, they could not find anything that would make the matter of the Thunder Buddha Lord invading seem like a trivial matter.
***
"Young master, I have a favor to ask."
When Banjeok Myeong returned, Tang Xiulian said with a smiling eye.
"What is it?"
"Please spar with me."
"......!"
"I roughly... honestly, I don't know how strong you are. But I know that you won't get hurt no matter how much I attack. So please help me."
Banjeok Myeong delayed his answer and turned his head.
The two were in the front yard of the Longevity Garden, and the Black Night God was visible at the window of the Longevity Garden.
"Sure, why not."
When Banjeok Myeong turned his head and gave his permission, Tang Xiulian was greatly pleased.
"What I learned in Tianlian is a hand technique called the Orchid Flower Bloodless Hand. Although it's only at the sixth stage, I think I can freely use the Hundred and Eight Revolving Shadow Explosion thanks to the Orchid Flower Bloodless Hand."
The Hundred and Eight Revolving Shadow Explosion was a hidden weapon technique of the Tang family.
The peak of the Tang family's hidden weapon techniques was the Ten Thousand Flowers Rain. It was a secret technique passed down only to the head of the Tang family for generations.
To learn the Ten Thousand Flowers Rain, one had to learn the Dark Heaven Storm Rain, and to learn the Dark Heaven Storm Rain, one had to learn a hand technique called the Thousand Hands Peerless. It meant that a hand technique was essential to learn the ultimate hidden weapon technique.
The hand technique that Tang Xiulian had learned in the Tang family was the Golden Jade Hand.
Because she was a daughter, not a son, she could not learn the Thousand Hands Peerless. Because of that, the progress of the Hundred and Eight Revolving Shadow Explosion was slow, but she had learned an ultimate technique called the Orchid Flower Bloodless Hand in Tianlian, and the Hundred and Eight Revolving Shadow Explosion had progressed rapidly.
"It's a bit narrow here, so let's go to the mountain."
"Yes."
When Tang Xiulian and Banjeok Myeong headed to the back mountain, the Black Night God stealthily followed them.
"The hidden weapon techniques of the Tang family are really dangerous, so I will observe."
The back mountain of the Hua Family Clinic.
"I think this is enough."
Tang Xiulian said, looking around.
Banjeok Myeong also nodded his head.
When the two were about to spar at a distance, a few people came down from the mountain.
The Meat Monk, Dokbi, and the Judge were coming down with their disciples after finishing their training.
Although there were unexpected observers, Tang Xiulian did not mind.
The three children, including Biyun, were resources that would protect the Hua Family Clinic together in the future, and since they were the children's masters, there was no reason to hide and be wary of her hidden weapon techniques.
If there was anything that bothered her, it was the Black Night God, but he was a person with a strong sense of justice, to the point where even her father acknowledged him.
"I asked the young master to face my martial arts."
"Ah! I can't miss such a good sight. Is it a hidden weapon technique by any chance?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll have to step back. Kids, let's go over there."
The Meat Monk took the children and stepped back to the upper part of the mountain.
Since they had taken a position in a place where large trees grew, the children would not get hurt even if hidden weapons flew.
"Wow! Can we see brother Myung's martial arts?"
"Yes! Brother Myung is super strong. He even sent the bear fur king flying with one punch! I hope sister Xiulian doesn't get hurt... but if it's brother, he'll do it well without getting her hurt!"
At Gangbi's question, Biyun chattered excitedly, and Cheolhong, who was a couple of years older than the two, just watched with eyes full of interest.
In the meantime, Banjeok Myeong and Tang Xiulian faced each other and prepared.
"I can't control it perfectly. So to see if I can do it without holding back, I'll try using the Flying Star Style first."
"Yes."
When Banjeok Myeong answered, Tang Xiulian took out a dagger.
She held it out in front of Banjeok Myeong so that he could see it, and then she imbued it with her internal energy and threw it.
Swoosh!
It was the sound of the dagger piercing the air.
It was the most basic hidden weapon technique that killed the opponent with speed and destructive power instead of stealth.
Although it was a basic hidden weapon, it could not be ignored as it focused on speed and destructive power.
Thwack!
A heavy impact sound.
Tang Xiulian's eyes widened and she ran in one step.
Because Banjeok Myeong had stretched out his hand and had blocked the Flying Star Style, which she had thrown with a force close to her full power, with his bare palm.
"Are you okay?"
Tang Xiulian, who took Banjeok Myeong's hand and looked at it.
To her surprise, there was not a single wound on his palm.
"......!"
Tang Xiulian, who looked at Banjeok Myeong with wide eyes.
She soon smiled brightly.
"Young master, you're really strong. I think I can use it without holding back."
Tang Xiulian, who had returned to her place excitedly.
She soon took a deep breath and shouted at Banjeok Myeong.
"Here I come!"
"Yes!"
The moment Banjeok Myeong answered, Tang Xiulian spread her two hands.
Spurt, spurt, spurt, spurt, spurt!
A dozen hidden weapons flew.
Tang Xiulian did not even check the result and spread her two hands busily. Hidden weapons flew from her hands without rest.
In almost an instant, dozens of hidden weapons flew towards Banjeok Myeong like a swarm of bees. Even so, her hands did not stop moving. Then, at some point, when the hidden weapons hidden in her sleeves ran out, her two hands went in and out of her bosom. Each time, various kinds of hidden weapons flew in a volley.
Iron beads, willow leaf daggers, butterfly darts, etc.
Banjeok Myeong, who was in the stance of the Hundred Strikes Art, was quite surprised to see the hidden weapons rushing towards him.
It was just amazing that she could throw so many hidden weapons.
'What sister-in-law wants is a real fight!'
It couldn't be a real fight, but he could give her a spar that was close to a real fight.
Banjeok Myeong shook his upper body back and forth and stretched out his fists alternately. The hidden weapons were sent flying by the fast and powerful punches.
At this time, Tang Xiulian, who had thrown about a hundred hidden weapons in an instant, suddenly kicked the ground.
Tang Xiulian, who had shot up into the air, caught the hidden weapons that were flying back and threw them even faster.
The sight of her shooting up and down like a swallow flying over the water, catching the bouncing hidden weapons and throwing them again, was truly close to divine.
Banjeok Myeong stood rooted to the spot and blocked the hidden weapons, and Tang Xiulian shot up and down, catching the bouncing hidden weapons and throwing them again.
At the sight of the two, which was close to divine, the three children, including Biyun, were amazed with their eyes wide open, and the Meat Monk and the others also let out cries of admiration.
The spar between the two ended after the time it took to drink a cup of tea.
"You didn't get hit once, right?"
"No."
"You're really amazing. Or am I just too lacking?"
Tang Xiulian's face was flushed.
She was greatly surprised that he could block all the hidden weapons that had swept in without a moment's rest, but she was also happy about Banjeok Myeong's martial prowess, which was that strong.
Because the stronger Banjeok Myeong was, the safer the Hua Family Clinic would be.
"That's not true. You're also amazing, sister-in-law."
"It's because I still lack enlightenment. I can show its true power only when I can retrieve the hidden weapons with telekinesis. At that time, you'll also sweat a little, young master."
"Ah!"
Banjeok Myeong was amazed at the thought of her properly using the Hundred and Eight Revolving Shadow Explosion.
As Tang Xiulian said, if she could retrieve the hidden weapons with telekinesis, the opponent would have to taste a storm of hidden weapons that swept in endlessly.
The Black Night God, who had watched the spar between the two to the end, stared at Banjeok Myeong with a sharp eye.
'That's not all of it!'
He was the brat who had killed the Sword Saint of the Blue Sky, one of the Six Orthodox Heavens.
It was clear that he would have considered such hidden weapon techniques as the stone-throwing of children.
'I will definitely reveal that you are the culprit!'
The Black Night God turned around, creating a cold wind.
The Black Night God, who was going down the mountain towards the Hua Family Clinic.
Banjeok Myeong looked at the Black Night God.
It was a calm expression with no surprise, no anger, no emotion whatsoever.
(End of Chapter)