'Damn it...'
This isn't some ethical dilemma about saving many versus saving one.
'Even if I choose the Shaolin Temple's Abbot, can I really restore him?'
When undergoing the Tower's trials, these kinds of choices often appear. Situations where you're forced to gamble without any predictability.
The incident has already happened, and I must choose before it's too late.
What's needed in times like this is ultimately experience and intuition.
'Even if I save them, we still can't stop the final boss Blood Demon. At best, we'd just buy some time.'
My decision is made.
High risk high return.
"Gukju-nim! We'll hold them off here!!"
"You... learned martial arts in the Western Countries and remain unharmed... Go quickly! We'll hold out as long as we can!!"
The Azure Dragon Escort Agency's leader and remaining warriors fight desperately.
In the distance, I see Zhang San struggling against a Blood Puppet.
'Huu...'
I run past them.
Bloodied monks collapsed along the path guide my way. It seems the Mountain Hollow Poison has spread throughout Shaolin - some died fleeing without resistance.
Following the corpses, I arrive at a building.
[Abbot's Chamber]
The heart of Shaolin Temple.
A surprisingly ordinary, unimpressive building appears.
Kwa-kwang!! Poo-shuk!!!
I follow the sounds of destruction and flesh tearing inside.
When I enter, the chamber is already drenched in blood.
"Stop!!"
A man presumed to be Namgung Myeong-il holds a venerable monk aloft with one hand, a blood-dripping sword in the other.
He turns his head at my voice.
"Ah, this young lady? You finally came?"
Gone is the handsome image from daytime - now only a blood-mad killer stands.
His body has grown 1.5 times larger, hands transformed into beast-like claws. His blue eyes have completely reddened.
"Wait... wait for me. Once I kill the Abbot, you can come with me..."
"What? No!!!"
As he drags the monk toward a yellow-barriered door, I charge and stab his back with my spear.
He throws the monk aside and swiftly dodges sideways.
"You... attacked me? Why?"
"..."
'This bastard's fast!'
He wasn't this strong when I saw him earlier - must have gained power somehow.
"Fine! Losing a limb or two doesn't matter - I'll reattach them!!"
Whoosh!
With tremendous wind pressure, he closes the distance instantly.
'A body slam?'
Rather than resisting, I yield softly to the massive force.
Thud!
The powerful impact sends me crashing through the wall, tumbling dozens meters outside before stopping.
My body remains durable despite lacking internal energy, so no major damage.
Actually good - spears favor open spaces over cramped rooms.
"Hehehe... Still tough as ever."
He slowly emerges through the shattered hole.
"Are you alone?"
I stand and point my spear at him.
"What, gathering intel? Hehehe... Fine, I'll tell. Yes, I'm alone here."
He smiles as if inviting more questions, gesturing mockingly like my efforts are meaningless.
'That son of a bitch...'
My blood pressure rises slightly, but I calmly ask:
"Where's Blood Demon?"
"Ah... That one will arrive soon. I requested this opportunity."
"Opportunity?"
"He promised - if I kill Shaolin's Abbot this time, he'll save someone I want like he did me."
"That... could it be me?"
Is this guy completely obsessed with women?
"Yes, correct. I did all this for you. Always... just to have you, only you. Hehehe..."
"You crazy bastard..."
No need to hear more. I worried this might be Blood Demon's diversion, but seems it's his solo operation.
'Then he's the mid-boss.'
"What, done asking? Then let's go!!"
Crash!!
Stone shatters as he charges through torn air.
'Still fast.'
In the past, reacting might have been impossible.
But I have <Buff Stacking> from the 13th floor reward.
'Burn all Divine Power.'
[Haste]
[Haste]
[Haste]
[Haste]
[Haste]
[Haste]
Instantly stacking 6 Haste layers boosts Agility by 90. The world slows down.
Like time itself decelerating.
I see his smug expression clearly.
His posture, trajectory, even time until impact - all easily calculable.
I position my spear along his charge path.
"Kuhahaha!! You can't stop me with that!!"
Every micro-muscle movement visible.
'Not yet.'
[Strength]
[Strength]
[Strength]
[Strength]
Squeezing remaining Divine Power, I amplify strength instantly.
As his right ankle shifts slightly rightward,
I retrieve and thrust hard right.
"Huh?"
His panicked pupils dilate.
Spear and body converge.
As he dodges right,
The spear magnetically follows, piercing his heart like knowing the future.
Puk!
Through tough skin, shattering ribs, stabbing the heart.
"Guhuk!!"
Though heart pierced, he doesn't stop.
'These types usually regenerate or revive.'
Withdrawing spear from heart-
Stabstabstabstabstabstab!!!
Instant rapid thrusts across his body.
Lightning stabs.
Not aimed strikes but instinctive jabs at vital joints and pressure points.
His body becomes swiss cheese, limbs falling away.
Losing momentum, he collapses backward.
One second.
Shaolin's terrorizing mid-boss falls pathetically in a single clash.
"Guhuk, kuk! H-how..."
'Still not dead.'
Limbs severed, torso organs destroyed, yet he lives.
Standing beside him to finish it, I raise my spear.
"N-no... Dohee! Don't! You can't beat Blood Demon! Joining me is the only salvation!! It's not too late!!!"
Desperate words through bloody coughs. He truly believes this is the only way.
Once trapped in wrong ideology, everything seems justified.
Pitiful and sad.
"Farewell..."
"Why... Now that all obstacles between us are gone..."
Obstacles - perhaps his own clan?
Namgung Myeong-il, mad for a woman, allied with Blood Demon, taking countless lives including his clan.
Spear tip at his forehead.
"No!! After all I've done for you... AAAAHK!!!"
Slowly pushing spear inward.
Piercing skin, pressing skull.
"GYAAAAK!! DOHEE!! NOOOOO!!"
Ignoring his agony, I push harder.
Crack... Crack!!
Skull fractures, spear penetrating through shattered bone.
Squelching sounds as brain destroys, ending it.
"Huu... Everyone, don't get bewitched by women like this."
I say to an imaginary camera before rushing back to the Abbot's chamber.
The crimson moon still hangs. Blood Demon will come soon. Must handle Shaolin's Abbot first.
Briefly consider helping others outside, but ultimately restoring the Abbot is key.
A strange energy barrier blocks the inner chamber.
"Excuse me? Are you alright?"
Approaching the venerable monk who survived Namgung's attack.
"Ugh... Fine. Just some neck pain. But... all dead now."
He surveys the area bitterly.
Whether intentional or not, monks' bodies lie brutally dismembered.
"Huu... May all reach paradise... Namu Amitabha."
"Namu Amitabha..."
I join palms similarly, waiting briefly as he chants.
He finishes quickly and asks:
"Seems you wish to enter. Concerned about Abbot-nim's condition?"
Shaolin's Abbot is typically called Juji.
His question surprises me, but I answer honestly - may be my only chance.
"Yes. I wish to see Juji-nim's condition myself and attempt treatment if possible."
"Hoho... You'd try what even Hua Tuo couldn't? This barrier is a joint formation by Abbot-nim and our Eight Great Protectors. We were authorized to lift it in emergencies, but now only I remain. Once lifted, it can't be remade. You understand the implications."
"......"
'Too reckless...?'
Impossible to breach by force.
An unusual formation surrounds the presumed Abbot's room.
Only one chance to lift it.
If I fail treatment, the Qi Deviated Abbot becomes vulnerable to Blood Cult attack.
Even if successful - can I really do what Hua Tuo couldn't?
And would they allow some whore-dressed woman inside...
"Fine, I'll permit it."
"As expected... Huh?"
What...?
Did I mishear?
"Pardon...?"
"But there's a condition. May I touch your breasts once?"
"......Excuse me?"
What the...
Too absurd for words.
Is Shaolin's elite protector really some horny monk trying to sexually assault women!?
"S-such shameless... acts.... B-but... no choice. T-touch them! Mm... Fine, can't be helped..."
Blushing, I push my chest forward. He panics instead.
"W-wait! You've misunderstood!"
"Huh? Didn't you say payment would be my body?"
"Sigh, my apologies. I omitted too much. Must explain before entry anyway. Listen without misunderstanding."
'Ah... so not forced breast touching...'
Somehow disappointed, but I listen quietly.
"Let's see... First, Abbot-nim's martial art is Child's Art."
Child's Art.
Commonly known as becoming a voluntary eunuch through abstinence to gain immense internal energy.
"Do you know why no monk mastering Child's Art reaches supreme heights?"
"Hmm..."
Now that you mention it, I've never heard of anyone becoming World's Strongest through it. Strange for such potent energy-gathering Mind Technique.
"Failing to resist sexual desire...?"
"Important reason, but that's pre-transcendence. Child's Art practitioners gradually lose sexual urges. And upon reaching Hua state, intercourse doesn't erase cultivation."
"Then why?"
"A tribulation comes midway. Overdeveloped Yang energy exceeding one's control, gradually burning the body. Most Qi Deviate transitioning from Hua to Xian state."
"What's the solution? If self-induced, is there treatment?"
"Actually...... yes. Officially, only self-control methods exist. But secretly, there's a way to escape Qi Deviation and even ascend further!"
"Which is...?"
The monk averts his gaze, hesitating before speaking.
"Ahem, that would be... Yin Absorption..."
"Pardon?"
Yin Absorption? Isn't that what lust demons or martial villains use?
"Don't misunderstand... No harm comes to women."
"Really? Then why not use it? Just find a woman, right?"
"Ordinary women are useless. Specific conditions: a woman with perfectly pure Yin energy matching Abbot-nim's Yang levels. Now see why it's secret? Useless knowledge that would only damage Shaolin's reputation."
"......"
Right - finding female masters with matching Yin levels is hard. Those at that level would be older, possibly married or unwilling due to reputation.
Moreover, "perfectly pure Yin" requires mastering only Taoist/Buddhist arts without mixed attributes - nearly impossible since most sects don't accept women.
"Soothing extreme Yang with extreme Yin. Not just soothing - Child's Art's suppression of desire and extreme Yang defy nature's order favoring Yin-Yang unity and reproductive instincts. All life reproduces - isn't rejecting that through Child's Art unnatural? Hence Qi Deviation occurs. Embracing Yin-Yang unity and natural reproductive laws brings harmony, enlightenment, and ascension."
"Y-yes... Reproductive instinct is famous natural law..."
"Of course, mismatched pairs risk bad outcomes, so we debated this method until yesterday... Now no one left to debate."
"To summarize... I enter and exchange Yang-Yin energy with Abbot-nim through... intercourse?"
"Correct. Those reaching Hua state through Child's Art don't lose cultivation through intercourse, so enjoy freely."
Enjoy freely...
"Hence, remove your clothes."
"Huh...?"
"Didn't I explain earlier? Your Qi seems concentrated in both breasts - visual inspection can't determine suitability. If incompatible, both risk danger."
"So...?"
"What didn't you hear? Strip immediately! Time is short! I must personally feel those large bare breasts!"
'Do you really need to touch them...?'