Chapter 40 (2/2)

The Single Acupuncturist shook his head.

“That won’t do. You must stand at least 10 sheets away from me and I will signal when to start.”

Taesan smirked.

“Guess there’s another scaredy cat here.”

Taesasn glanced at Gyeongwan.

He sensed the slight change in Gyeongwan’s gaze at the word sacred cat.

Even though his expression was the same.

But the Single Acupuncturist’s eyes remained the same.

“It’s better to be called a scaredy-cat than to lose a bet.”

He then walked to a distance he felt was far enough. Then he gestured to Taesan to move back.

Taesan took a few steps backward.

He could read into what the Single Acupuncturist was trying to do.

This fella was trying to start a match of earth.

His calculation was probably to use his internal power to pressure Taesan continuously from a safe distance and tire his already weak body.

And this was exactly what the great doctor had been worried about.

Everyone here was considered a skilled warrior.

So they were immediately able to guess what the Single Acupuncturist was about to do. Everyone looked grim.

But Taesan was still indifferent.

“When do we start?”

The Single Acupuncturist replied as he gathered his internal power.

“Now.”

Taesan didn’t move and stood still.

The Single Acupuncturist had expected Taesan to rush into an attack but seeing how he stood still, started to move slowly.

He moved to the side while maintaining the distance. Then he blew a strong wind attack towards Taean.

Whoosh!

The entire strong wind passed Taesan, nearly coming into contact with him.

Not even one managed to reach him.

The Single Acupuncturist increased the speed of his attacks. He consecutively sent wind attacks while moving around Taesan.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Surprisingly all the wind attacks missed Taesan.

Again, not a single one was able to reach Taesan.

Those watching were confused and unable to differentiate if the Single Acupuncturist was intentionally doing this or making a blunder.

Taesan spoke to the Single Acupuncturist as he stood still.

“It was a good attempt.”

At that moment Taesan disappeared from view.

“But this is the outcome.”

Taesan was right in front of the Single Acupuncturist.

The Single Acupuncturist was about to take out a needle.

His eyes were full of anger.

Taesan tapped the Single Acupuncturist‘s arm.

“Gaah!”

The Single Acupuncturist ended up pinning the needle to his own heart due to the sudden movement of his arm.

The Single Acupuncturist tried hard to retaliate.

It wasn’t a poisoned needle so all he had to do was bear the pain.

But it was impossible.

Taesan had moved in a blink of an eye and moved to block the Single Acupuncturist’s path by holding a leg out and tapped on his shoulder.

Tumble!

He fell in a comical way. His whole body started to feel like it was broken.

The Single Acupuncturist remained flat on the floor and looked up at Taesan with a look of disbelief.

This was impossible.

“You…can use your internal power? How?”

Taesan did not answer. The internal power he just used wasn’t his own but the ones he had collected through the soul collecting power he had.

It would only make things complicated by trying to explain.

It was best to let him get lost in his own imagination.

“Do you surrender?”

Taesan looked down at the Single Acupuncturist with indifferent eyes.

This was very stressful for the Single Acupuncturist.

“Groan.”

The Single Acupuncturist got to his feet. Then pulled the needle out from his chest.

He realized. It’s useless to use a needle against someone like him.

“I can’t do that. Not when I’ve bet even my soul.”

The Single Acupuncturist glared at Taesan.

“Seems like you won’t admit defeat until you either pass out or die.”

Taesan replied before disappearing one more time.

The Single Acupuncturist thought he was going crazy. It was exactly the same as just now. He was looking at him with eyes wide open, but he lost sight of him again.

He even channeled his internal power to his eyes so as not to lose sight of him.

Bang!

He felt great pain to the back of his head. Then the whole world started spinning and went black.

***

The Single Acupuncturist blinked his eyes. He saw blue skies.

He was lying on the ground of the training hall.

And the great doctor was seated next to him.

“You just lost your consciousness from the sudden impact. There are no injuries.”

He couldn’t hear him very well.

‘I lost? Me? To that novice?”

No, could he be called a novice? This was the first time he was defeated like this before.

Something had felt fishy from the start and now it has come to this.

“So, are you going to keep your promise?”

The Single Acupuncturist’s mind started to go into overdrive at the great doctor’s query.

He had bet himself and his soul. He wasn’t sure how he could offer them, to begin with.

In all honesty, he didn’t even think it would be possible to lose.

“I don’t know. What I’m supposed to do now.”

“I cast a few restraining spells on you, just in case.”

The Single Acupuncturist frowned.

“What do you take me for! Did you think I would run away without keeping my end of the bargain!”

“That’s why I said just in case. Really just in case. I mean today is the first time I met you, so how am I supposed to know what kind of person you are? There’s nothing wrong with benign careful, right? I’m sure you would agree. Since we’re both doctors.”

The Single Accupunctuist stared blankly at the great doctor.

Then the great doctor smiled widely.

“Let’s get along.”

The Single Acupuncturist felt annoyed as it felt like the great doctor was looking down on him.