The Order Is Decided By The Old Man. (1)

“If an elder comes, you should quickly come down and pay respects, shouldn’t you? Such arrogant little taoists.”

The ambushing taoists were flustered and at a loss.

They were second-rank disciples of the Southern Edge Sect—rookies by Yu Jinsan’s standards.

And they knew the Yin Yang Twin Monster was not an opponent they could handle.

“Will you come down willingly, or shall this old man drop you?”

It didn’t take long for them to reveal themselves.

Five taoists descended to the surface; hiding was pointless against such opponents.

The priest with the highest rank among them asked in a trembling voice, “Um, Yin Yang Twin Monster, what brings you here?”

“We have business here, not on a picnic. Don’t dawdle in front and move aside.”

The young taoists looked terrified at a glance, but they did not willingly clear the way.

“Th-this area does not permit outsiders. Do you know what happens if you trespass in here?”

At that moment Yu Seol, who had been watching silently, puffed up and stepped forward.

“We’re here to collect money — do we need to know that too?” she asked.

The second-class disciples recoiled when they met the Yin Monster’s gaze.

“M-money? What are you talking about?”

“Our house dues!”

The taoists were baffled and tilted their heads. It seemed the news hadn’t reached the second-class disciples yet. Not surprising—they’d been warned an attack was coming, but they probably didn’t expect ‘soon’ to mean right now.

Yu Jinsan patted his granddaughter’s shoulder and nodded for her to step back. Then he spoke quietly toward the taoists. “Go up and tell them we’ve arrived. Or stay and fight this one.”

There were two options: abandon their duty to block intruders and flee to the summit, or stay and fight the Yin Monster. The latter would be a senseless death. If they retreated they’d face punishment from their sect, but that was far better than dying pointlessly.

“R-really, you’ll let us go?”

“Disappear from my sight quickly. Before I change my mind.”

There was no reason to refuse being spared.

“…A-alright.”

The taoists turned and fled at once. They were young and inexperienced; Yu Jinsan simply let them go.

But he soon regretted that decision.

A moment later, a shout echoed from somewhere distant. “Hey you ruthless old bastards! Do you think we backed down out of fear!? Today is your funeral!!!”

The taoists turned 180 degrees in shock and froze. Had they really been taunted while trusting in their sect’s leader?

Yu Jinsan, dazed, suddenly remembered. ‘Ah, now I recall. It was that fellow back then.’

One of the taoists who had just fled was the same man who had provoked him in the past—famous for insulting and running away.

He sighed, “He just insulted us. Should we go and catch him?”

His granddaughter looked annoyed as well. Although the taoists had fled far, Yu Seol could have caught them before they reached safety. There was no need to bother now.

“Leave them be. We’ll meet again soon.”

Yu Seol widened her eyes and shouted toward their direction, “If you go up, you’re dead! Prepare to be beaten to a pulp!!!”

It was a shout from the lungs, not a supernatural roar, yet it echoed thunderously into the distance. Cowed by the momentum, no further taunts followed.

Yu Jinsan calmed his granddaughter. “Don’t get excited over those rascals. They don’t know much about us yet.”

Yu Seol’s breathing remained rough. “Let’s go up quickly. Why are you walking so slowly?”

“I’m giving them time on purpose. So they can fully prepare.”

“Huh? Why?”

“So we can deal with them all at once. Do you want to bother hunting them down one by one?”

Now Yu Seol nodded in agreement and admired him. “So when we go up they’ll all be gathered? Grandpa, you’re a genius.”

“A wise person thinks two moves ahead. Solving everything with brute force only wears the body out.”

In fact, Yu Jinsan had another objective. It wasn’t merely to teach the Southern Edge Sect a lesson; they had to be subjugated with overwhelming force. If the low-ranked Southern Edge Sect could not be made to yield in the Nine-Style Hall, the path to becoming the Supreme would be lost.

After walking for a while, the gate came into view. No taoists guarded it—only one lookout glanced over and then fled.

“Bring the spears.”

One of the Extreme Killer Five, acting as baggage-runner, ran up carrying two spears. “Here they are, elder.”

Yu Jinsan signaled his granddaughter, meaning to hand one to the Yin Monster. But Yu Seol shook her head as if she didn’t need it. “No, I’m fine.”

“You want to do it bare-handed? Well, that’s not a bad option either.”

Perhaps she liked the feel of striking with bare hands; whatever the reason, Yu Seol preferred not to use weapons when possible. Whatever the motive, there likely weren’t any Southern Edge fighters who could force the granddaughter to use a spear.

In the end, only Yu Jinsan received the Dragon Slaying Spear.

“But are you sure the two of you alone are sufficient?”

The Extreme Killer Five eyed the battlefield hungrily, wanting to join, but they weren’t permitted. This deed had to be carried out in the name of the Yin Yang Twin Monster alone.

“There’s no need for you to step in. Hide and watch if you wish.”

Passing the gate revealed a spectacular view of the summit. At the center sat a vast basin, surrounded by a dozen peaks. Having infiltrated here before, finding the way wasn’t difficult.

The Great Training Ground within the basin—a place radiating heat—seemed to be the gathering spot.

“There it is. We’re almost there.”

“Yeah, looks like about five hundred have gathered.”

Yu Seol could already sense their numbers. Five hundred—apparently they had assembled all available fighting strength. That meant they viewed the matter as serious.

“That’s a lot. Then let’s use some wisdom this time. Move exactly as Grandpa commands.”

There was no reason to hesitate now. The grandparent and grandchild strode together toward the Great Training Ground.

The scene before them was as expected.

Taoists gripping swords had already set up a formation and were waiting—against only two people. The frontline forces drew the eye as usual; elders and even retired seniors had been brought. They meant business.

“Yin Yang Twin Monster, you brats! How dare you come here and cause trouble?”

Unlike the other taoists, an older taoist dressed more elegantly stepped forward. He kept a neatly trimmed white beard, wore a fierce expression, and radiated weighty internal energy. Yu Jinsan recognized him as Hyun Jong, the sect leader of the Southern Edge Sect. The decisive clue was the jade token hanging from his sword hilt—the emblem signifying the head of the Southern Edge Sect.

“You dared to set fire to our place, so you’ll pay the price, won’t you?”

“That was the Murim Alliance’s doing, not a decision from Southern Edge.”

To be precise, members of the zealous Murim Alliance had gathered and committed the act. In any case, Yu Jinsan said, take it up with the Murim Alliance. Of course, they had no intention of attacking that place now.

Yu Jinsan picked his ear with his left pinky and answered curtly, “Who must take responsibility and the order in which to beat them will be decided by this old man.”

“Arrogant fools. Do you think the two of you can topple Southern Edge?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

Yu Jinsan silently examined their formation. It was a great sword formation, hundreds of taoists interlinked like a chain—resistant to ordinary shocks. The biggest problem was the aged senior taoists. While many active elders hadn’t reached the pinnacle, among the elder taoists there were figures who might be at the Supreme realm. If they clashed head-on with the granddaughter, a horrific bloodbath would ensue.

• Child. Don’t penetrate too deep; bring just one of the elderly men in the foremost row to Grandpa.

Yu Seol, having received her grandfather’s telepathic instruction, nodded once. Yu Jinsan waited leisurely, curious which one his granddaughter would choose.

A moment later, Yu Seol, searching for a target, pointed with her index finger at someone.

“Southern Edge?”

An elder glared at them with an unpleasant expression. He was a man in Yu Jinsan’s memory—Elder Hyun Ho, who once beat him and had been nearly killed by the granddaughter in retribution.

“Yin Monster…”

Perhaps due to bad memories, Hyun Ho turned his head as if he didn’t want to meet Yu Seol’s eyes. That decision erased his last chance to flee to the rear.

In an instant, Yu Seol’s spirit form became a streak of light and shot forward. She charged alone into the taoists’ sword formation, her speed comparable to lightning. Even the first-class disciples and elders missed her movement.

A few senior warriors flinched and gripped their weapons, but it was futile. Yu Seol’s spirit form was already spinning into a seated position right in front of Hyun Ho. Struck in the legs, Hyun Ho fell with a thud. But Hyun Ho was not her target—she had only passed through him.

While everyone’s gaze was fixed on Hyun Ho, Yu Seol changed direction and darted like a lightning flash.

At that moment, someone’s urgent shout rang out. “Stop her!”

Surprisingly, Hyun Jong, the sect leader, stood where Yu Seol was heading. Two seniors who had prepared in advance blocked her path and slashed with their swords.

But who was the opponent? A top Evil Sect warrior and the Yin Monster eyeing the position of Murim’s supreme.

Yu Seol’s spirit form pushed off the ground and rotated obliquely in midair.

Shing—! Bang—!

The two swords cut nothing but air; their strikes missed. Already Yu Seol had passed them and approached right beside the sect head. Everyone wore stunned expressions—the carefully prepared formation had no time to activate. Nothing remained between the Yin Monster and Hyun Jong.

But Hyun Jong was not a sect leader who would yield meekly. “Come!”

His blade split into dozens and began slashing across the front. It was the Southern Edge Sect’s technique, Heaven’s Thirty-Six Sword Movement. The seniors thought a weaponless Yin Monster would struggle to block it—until a bright flash filled their vision.

Flash!

It was the Lightning Flying Shadow Step, a technique famed among the Sword Empress. When the flash faded, Yu Seol had plunged her fist into Hyun Jong’s side.

Hyun Jong bent like a bow and screamed. In a single blow, both his legs went weak. Incredibly, the sect leader had been neutralized in one strike.

Everyone gaped in shock as Yu Seol grabbed Hyun Jong’s collar and dashed like the wind toward the rear—where Yu Jinsan waited.

“I’ve got him, Grandpa!”

Receiving Hyun Jong, Yu Jinsan quickly pressed the Dragon Slaying Spear to his throat.

“Well done, child. Then shall we have some real fun from now on?”