Chapter 105

"That's hard to say..." Xing laughed wickedly.

"Don't... go easy on me, sigh... forget it, this was originally my own mess, life and death are up to fate. Please try not to kill me!" Yunqi trembled.

After their discussion was about done, they summoned Lü Fúróng, and under his witness they began the duel.

Xing whipped out a bat without hesitation, and a shocking aura instantly burst forth!

"Rules are meant to be broken!"

"Hey, wait!" Yunqi was frightened by her momentum, unable to steady the battle-axe in his hand: "You're really going to do this!? Don't... go easy, easy——"

Unfortunately, before he could finish, Xing struck him with a stick, and poor Yunqi elder brother immediately began enjoying baby-like sleep.

"Wow, what great skill!" Lü Fúróng praised, he crouched to check Yunqi's breath, found none, and couldn't help but be even more pleased.

"It's good that you won, but this guy shows up in Yunqi uniform saying he wants to join the sect, talking nonsense; if he actually won, I'd really worry whether he's trustworthy."

"Zijú, Lántǎo, find a place to deal with this Yunqi."

"Lü Fúróng really has a hundred tricks up his sleeve; even if Yunqi elder brother beat Xing, he probably wouldn't let him pass."

Kōryoku Ichitō fumed on behalf of Yunqi elder brother: "No wonder the Medicine King's Secret Transmission is an illegal gang; they spend all their thoughts on dealing with members—having such a person around would turn even a legitimate gang into a mess."

"Uh, boss..." Kyūki Shin lowered his voice, "Actually, our Kōryoku faction isn't even a legitimate gang at the magistrate's office..."

"Ah Shin, don't worry about such details."

Ichitō stared fixedly at the light screen, his expression unprecedentedly stern: "I'm furious now, they actually treat gang newcomers like this... I must personally witness how the Medicine King's Secret Transmission is dealt with by Xing!"

"I'll handle it." Xing volunteered.

"You? Do you know how to handle it?" Lü Fúróng wrote his doubt all over his face.

Xing wore a perverted grin: "I like collecting these..."

"Uh... collect?" Lü Fúróng was startled, but quickly he showed understanding: "No problem, no problem—one can't make friends without quirks."

Considering Xing's brain circuitry that differs from ordinary people, a little quirk is quite normal. In any case, Lü Fúróng still assigned the task to Xing and said he would report it truthfully to his superiors.

By the way, they also gave Xing an organization codename—Gray Peony.

"What a lame name, not as good as Galactic Bat Hero..." Xing muttered to himself, then brought Yunqi back to a safe place.

"Hah!" Yunqi, who had just lost pulse and heartbeat, sprang up from the ground, greedily gulping fresh air: "How's that? My fake-death skill still works, right?"

Baki world.

"As expected, it's a victory of martial arts!"

Looking at the resurrected Yunqi soldier, Guō Hǎihuáng showed a relieved expression: "There's nothing better than death as a protective art; this Yunqi may look weak, but he has truly grasped the essence of martial arts."

"Does playing dead count as the essence of martial arts? How cunning..." Miyamoto Musashi couldn't hide a smirk on his face, "I originally thought the essence of martial arts was more exquisite techniques."

"Martial arts and technique are inherently cunning. When insects and animals judge they cannot win or encounter danger, they use mimicry techniques to feign death."

Guō Hǎihuáng said calmly: "You can look down on it, or say it's very cunning, it doesn't matter... but the result is that they can continue to live."

"That Yunqi was imprisoned, even fought Xing... yet he came out alive—this is the victory of martial arts! If it were you, Miyamoto Musashi, could you do it!?"

These words rang like a tiger's roar and dragon's chant, shaking everyone present.

And Miyamoto Musashi seemed pressed down by ironclad facts, lowering his head into contemplation.

Indeed, in that situation, aside from playing dead, the only option is to defeat Xing head-on... but not only could that Yunqi not do it, even the martial artists present might not be able to!

"Alright, Guō Hǎihuáng, I accept your answer." Miyamoto Musashi let out a long sigh, then asked curiously: "Regarding what you said about the essence of martial arts... could you teach it to me?"

"You're still too young, Miyamoto Musashi."

Guō Hǎihuáng emitted a "keke" laugh, teasingly saying: "Wait another hundred years, then come ask me again?"

"Y-You... how are you still alive?" Xing's face showed horror, as if seeing a zombie.

"Huh? You were really going to kill me just now!?" Yunqi exclaimed in shock.

He stared at Xing's eyes for a while, finally realizing it was just a joke.

"What a petty person..." Yunqi gave a wry, helpless smile.

After confirming no one was following him around, Yunqi returned to the Shenfu Palace to report.

Not long after, Qingzu sent a message, expressing gratitude to Xing on one hand, and on the other hoping she would continue investigating inside the Medicine King's Secret Transmission, focusing especially on a Yunqi named Zhíxìn who had gone missing a few months earlier.

Putting down her phone, Xing headed toward the rendezvous point she had agreed upon with Lü Fúróng.

Arriving there, however, she found Lü Fúróng absent, only a letter addressed to "Gray Peony"; Xing realized it was meant for her.

Opening it, she read that a cultivator had defected, and an important piece of information had been sent to the Shenfu Palace. Xing's task was to intercept that information; upon success, he could continue recommending Xing upward.

Lü Fúróng said, as long as his superior nods, Xing will be able to ascend the immortal path together with them.

One-Punch Man world.

Monster Association.

"This Lü Fúróng is quite cautious; if our Association's people sent to distribute cells could learn from him, there wouldn't be so few humans turning into monsters."

"Their organizational structure... hmm, also worth learning. As for their method of ascending the immortal path they mention, it's probably something similar to monster cells, right?"

Dàjiōngyǎn was looking at the monster cells in his hand, lost in thought.

This thing, if humans eat it, grants them immense power and long lifespan on the spot—though their bodies will inevitably monsterize, overall it's quite a bargain.

Every year some humans succumb to temptation and eat monster cells, becoming members of the Association. But the numbers are not only few, the quality varies, and those who can become "Dragon-level" monsters are especially rare.

Likewise both being "underground" organizations, Dàjiōngyǎn is curious how the Medicine King's Secret Transmission developed, likewise wanting to grow big and strong; he must sample the successful experience of this prosperous force...