Chapter 125

Tang Nan-ah originally had no friends.

A friend is supposed to be an equal relationship, but there was no one in the Tang Family on her level.

As the unofficial number one in the Tang Family hierarchy, everyone from the Grand Elder down was just scrap beneath her.

So, inside the great Sicheon Tang Family, there were simply no rivals outside.

Instead, when she occasionally needed something, she’d sweetly pull someone up from beneath her to get what she wanted, but recently her new sister, whom she had promoted, had betrayed her and left.

However, she had gained something akin to a friend (having never had one in her life, she wasn’t quite sure about it). It’s the old saying: when one horse runs away, another one rolls in.

And when a friend came along, there was one thing she had always wanted to try.

Tang Nan-ah pointed arrogantly with her finger.

“Hey. You.”

It was a sudden accusation, but she let it slide.

The kid was a bit rude, but she knew there was no malice behind it.

Lately, the little Chihuahua had gotten so accustomed to being around, circling her and looking for a chance to sneak a snack; how could she hate that?

“Why?”

“Today, you’re sleeping with me.”

“Gasp! You can’t just spring that on me out of the blue!”

Qing was taken by surprise.

Of course, unlike Jin Jangmyung, Tang Nan-ah was a confident twenty-two-year-old adult, so she could be said to possess the right to make decisions about her own body.

As Qing tried to withdraw, the corners of Tang Nan-ah’s eyes shot up.

“What? You don’t want to?”

“There are rules about how men and women should interact; how could a young lady say something like that?”

“What? You don’t want to…?”

It was the same question, but this time her shoulders slumped, and her expression turned gloomy.

Tang Nan-ah asked again.

“You aren’t close with me…?”

“If we had to categorize that in black and white, I guess we are somewhat close?”

“But why? If we’re close, we should be sleeping together, right?”

“Oh? Why’s that? Is that a custom in the Central Plains?”

“Ha! Are you really that ignorant? Didn’t you even attend elementary school?”

According to the Central Plains’ children’s curriculum, it explained the principles brothers should follow like this:

“When sleeping, share one blanket; when eating, share the same table.”

Using separate clothes and food is something not really human but what a barbarian would do.

From this point, we can see that the master of the Confucian classics was both an exponent of Confucianism and a severe racist at the same time.

However, in this era, discrimination against barbarians was commonplace for both the oppressor and the oppressed.

It was an age where tales abounded, saying that giving a warm word to a barbarian often resulted in life-threatening consequences later.

Anyway, he didn’t create Confucianism; he compiled it.

The studies of elementary texts were not stories but organized presentations of virtues encouraged for children from that time.

Just looking at the part about sharing a blanket while sleeping, it was clear.

For about a millennium before Zhu Xi’s time, sharing one bed and one blanket was the hallmark of brothers with the utmost friendship.

Right there, the famous Liu Bei and his brothers from the Three Kingdoms were known for sharing the same bed, widely broadcasting their brotherhood.

When Liu Bei won over the hearts of his ministers, he often used, “Sleep over today,” as a way to create a heartfelt display of loyalty.

“Oh! My lord regards me as a brother!” That kind of emotional appeal was the plan.

Of course, under normal circumstances, a guy wouldn’t shed tears of joy at being asked to spend the night.

Sharing one bed and one blanket was more toward filial piety for parents who couldn’t afford separate rooms for their kids.

But the pomp of the Chinese people is part of their culture.

They followed famous proverbs or anecdotes, using those as bragging rights to elevate their status through storytelling.

Thus, Liu Bei and his loyal subordinates would eat, bathe, and sleep together as a legacy to pass down to their descendants.

“Listen, your grandfather, your great-great-grandfather, your ancestors slept with Liu Bei!”

By the way, in terms of friendship, the brothers Liu Bei were actually surpassed in reputation by Sun Ce and Zhou Yu in the Central Plains.

They were known for their intense friendship, even tossing aside their wives to sleep in the same bed, but were less popular among the Han ethnicity, so they were not widely known.

“Oh, is that what it is?”

Qing realized the misunderstanding.

It was not about holding hands and sleeping together.

But rather, it was a cultural thing of hanging out in the same space until sleep overtook them.

But what do brotherly love and friendship have to do with each other?

Qing thought obliviously.

In fact, in the Central Plains, deep friendship is often used synonymously with brotherly affection.

The distinctive culture of the Chinese people regarding Guanxi is even codified into law (it’s not) and has systematically rigorous levels.

Level one, a friend is just an acquaintance.

Level two, ‘Hao Pengyou’ (好朋友) marks the start of true friendship.

Level three, ‘Lao Pengyou’ (老朋友) refers to an old friend, which opens up the chance for introductions among acquaintances.

In warrior terms, that’s about first-tier status.

Once they reach level four, they become brothers.

From here on, even if it’s merely Guanxi, calling someone family means you can’t just throw that relationship away.

Reaching level five makes one sworn brothers (干兄弟), the highest level and a legendary achievement.

Uniquely, there are sworn brothers above blood brothers, implying those chosen by the individual are often deeper and stronger ties than those formed by birth.

Of course, the Central Plains were still in their primitive state, so Qing’s homeland wasn’t formalized to that extent yet.

It still had that somewhat vague intuition? Just enough to not be on the rigid side of the future Chinese bureaucracy.

With the sharp mind of a physician, Tang Nan-ah saw through Qing’s state immediately.

Even without the physician’s cleverness, anyone with eyes could see Qing’s bewildered expression.

“Well, it’s common sense for friends to share a bed and blanket, right? You don’t have any friends?”

“Huh? Is that common sense…? Now that you mention it…”

Upon thinking back, the female friends Qing made in the Central Plains were always eyeing her bed.

Jang Myung would often curl up with a pillow, appearing at night, and Representative Ho would try a few times but then just ended up coming in the mornings to change clothes.

Qing felt uncertain.

It’s possible for close same-gender friends to share a bed, but that shouldn’t be common knowledge.

Tang Nan-ah’s intention was a wicked lie aiming to level up their friendship.

Despite her beautiful appearance, she was a cunning girl who would stop at nothing to achieve her goals.

She was the type to casually drop an outrageous lie without batting an eye.

One might not quite place her deeds on par with the Great Demon Lord, but they were pretty close.

Qing looked at the fidgety Tang Nan-ah.

Of course, her family was in danger, so it was no wonder she felt anxious.

She’d even said to take good care of the young lady, so there was that.

The sight of her hanging around, all slumped, begging for someone to play with was rather pitiful.

Qing smiled and replied.

“I may not have friends, but if I had someone to sleep with, they’d have to line up for over two and a half rounds at the training ground of the Divine Maiden Sect that day.”

Qing was joking.

However, if it actually happened, it might create a scene not too different from that. But then again, Qing had no way of knowing.

Immediately, Tang Nan-ah’s expression brightened up.

—-

Qing had picked up many bad habits since entering the Central Plains, and among those was an unhealthy attitude towards sleeping arrangements.

“What, what are you doing taking your clothes off…?!”

“Huh? Should I keep them on? Why?”

“Huh?”

She spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, leaving Tang Nan-ah with no room to protest.

Qing, completely oblivious to her surroundings, was now in a state where she no longer cared about women.

She walked around naked within the Divine Maiden Sect, forgetting all sense of modesty. Afterward, living at Hwanhui Palace had her completely losing her mind and accepting the presence of others as normal.

She didn’t even mind when encountering men.

What did it matter if she saw a woman’s body?

Men are men; what’s the big deal?

Once, when her body was temporarily taken by a spirit of the Heavenly Demon, she hadn’t experienced an oddity there, had she?

The Heavenly Demon’s spirit still maintained its form from the age of the first Heavenly Demon, yet Qing’s unconscious choice mimicked A-Qing, a labor worker from before she entered the martial world.

This was a realization Qing hadn’t come to herself.

To put it in Eastern terms, spirit represents the liquid, while body represents the vessel, thus liquid takes on the shape of the vessel.

In Western terms, you might put in scientific jargon about hormones or something else that’d mean little to someone rational.

There was no one around to logically unpack that for her, so it would remain an unlikely endeavor.

If Seomun Sulin had known, she’d be banging her head against a wall.

How could a dim-witted girl who couldn’t even define her true self possibly reach the level of a Supreme Martial Artist?

Supreme Martial Artist transcends the pinnacle of potential.

The peak refers to the highest point one can reach, so reaching the Supreme level is the first step towards transcending oneself.

Thus, the spirit that overcomes itself shines forth like starlight, wanting to capture the will of the stars, which is what they referred to as Qi.

The ‘qi’ of ‘qi’ (罡) represents the Beidou star.

It is the most destructive power wielded by warriors, drawing from the will of that star, the starlight cast in the sky for those without a sun.

Additionally, there exists a tale that in Qing’s hometown, when primitive digital texts couldn’t express rare Chinese characters, they sadly had to resort to writing ‘strong’ with a different variant.

Anyway, Qing spread her limbs across the silk sheets and marveled.

“Wow. This bed is amazing. It feels like pure silk.”

“Well, because it is silk…”

In fact, it was the most expensive bed in Sichuan, so it would rank among the best beds in the Central Plains too.

Qing could only admire that comfort.

“Really? Then I sleep now?”

“Wait, there’s no way that’s happening! We should talk about something.”

Qing thought.

Ugh, how annoying…

“Beds are meant for sleeping! If you waste time doing other things, it stays in your mind and leads to sleep disorders, making insomnia worse!”

“What’s that? Anyway, Qing… don’t you have a significant other or someone you fancy?”

Tang Nan-ah casually threw a pet name into her conversation.

Qing was oblivious to the expressions of affection used in the Central Plains, thinking ‘young lady’ was just part of how she referred to her.

“I don’t.”

“Really? Then what about Oki-rin?”

“He’s just a friend. That guy doesn’t like girls, to begin with.”

“Gasp.”

Tang Nan-ah took in a sharp breath.

What a scandal about the Most Handsome Man in the World!

If Pang Dae-san had heard, he would’ve raised his eyebrows and spoken in a low voice that reached the depths below.

But Pang Dae-san wasn’t there.

In a spot where someone was absent, they even curse someone from the upper echelons of power.

(But not the Emperor, of course.)

“That explains a lot; there were rumors, but why?”

“Rumors or whatever, don’t you see it?”

“But the way I see it, huh? Am I right? I am right?”

Tang Nan-ah had seen Oki-rin at the Dragon and Phoenix Association when the Grand Elder of the Tang Family celebrated his seventieth birthday, and at that moment, her eyes had been completely blinded by his brilliance.

Going back to remember, she realized that he didn’t have a very discerning gaze when it came to women.

Now that she thought about it, a chill crept over Tang Nan-ah—

Wait, it’s actually cold!

Since the blanket had not touched the bedding, the cool autumn air was seeping in through the gap.

“Hey, could you pass me the blanket…?”

“Ah, I’m so accustomed to rolling myself up tight. Can’t I just use two blankets?”

“No way. It’s clearly stated that there’s to be one bed, one blanket. But why? That means we have to sleep right next to each other, right? Why’s that? With such a wide bed?”

In fact, sleeping closely together is the essence of friendship.

But for Tang Nan-ah, who had never left her home or been in the martial world, the bedroom was more like a large piece meant for ten people.

So it was only natural to wonder why they should share the same blanket when they had such a big one.

Qing wouldn’t necessarily know the answer to that.

Still, since it wasn’t really a question seeking an answer, Qing just tossed out any comment.

“Is there maybe a special large blanket for friends?”

“Yeah, but that would be heavy. It’d be stuffy.”

“If it’s carried by two people, wouldn’t the weight be halved?”

“Really? Is there a size difference per the number of people? Hmm. I should tell the kids to get one.”

They were exchanging banter that wouldn’t be out of place for any fool.

Yet, this was just how friends conversed, so they were merely having fun with each other.

“Hey, you, pass me the blanket too.”

“……”

Then at some point, Qing let out a deep sigh and turned over in bed.

Qing was an expert in dozing off, falling into sleep even in the arms of Choi Riyong, and she soon succumbed to unconsciousness on that soft luxurious bed.

“What? Sleeping already? Ugh, why is she so strong? I want the blanket too, I’m cold…”

With Qing’s overwhelming strength, there was no way Tang Nan-ah could reclaim it.

Reluctantly, she had to lie closely beside her.

Then, at some moment, a sudden movement caused her to shift as a weight pressed down on half her body.

Immediately, Qing’s warm breath blew into her ear, making Tang Nan-ah jump in shock, freezing up.

“Gasp! Hey, hey…?”

—-

The next day, Tang Nan-ah looked pale.

Of course, nothing scandalous or inappropriate happened last night.

She had merely tossed and turned a bit, leaving her feeling groggy.

So, when entering the Tang Family’s strategic meeting against the government office from the morning, her fatigue was evident.

Qing, having given it little thought, was merely a distinguished guest of the family, sitting in as a favor.

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