Chapter 140

In truth, Seomun Sulin’s worries were quite warranted.

When Qing had lost himself to the Demon Cult and dramatically recovered under the teachings of the Great Chengseng, the Heavenly Sky’s ominous star flared red with anger and sorrow.

Having read the meaning of this star, Seomun Sulin felt relief that her disciple had overcome a great crisis and offered a prayer at midnight.

Since then, however, her anxiety had multiplied, for she worried that her gentle and kind-hearted disciple might return from the harsh world of the Jianghu, either physically or mentally injured.

Autumn had already deepened and the time for his return had passed, yet still, there was no sign of him.

Then, one day, her disciple, out to buy groceries, brought news that there was a great calamity in Sichuan, mentioning something about a rebellion and a plot to assassinate, with Qing’s name somehow entangled in it.

Heart sinking, Seomun Sulin, using her skill of the Sword and the skill of the Heavens, leaped over the natural high barriers of Sichuan in a single bound and arrived in Chengdu.

Of course, as a great elder of Dao who knew etiquette and propriety, she didn’t do something foolish like knocking on the Tang Family’s door in the dead of night.

First, she secured a room for the night. After refining her attire to avoid being a nuisance, she made her way to the Tang Family’s house at the proper hour of around 6 AM.

Finally, she laid eyes on her disciple’s figure.

Despite the sun dominating the sky at a bustling hour, her disciple was sprawled out on a luxurious silk-covered bed, lost in the realm of dreams.

To make matters worse, the only thing covering her modesty was a chest bandage, while the blanket was kicked aside, her limbs spread wide in a position that could drive anyone to embarrassment.

Seomun Sulin felt her anger rising tremendously.

When a master martial artist loses their temper, just that alone can make the air tremble and double the weight of gravity, unleashing a pressure that crushes space.

At this intense aura, when her disciple slowly opened her eyes and their gazes met, despite her dazed expression not focusing properly, she managed a blissfully innocent smile.

“Hehe, it’s Master… I missed you…”

And with that, she closed her eyes again, letting out soft, sweet breaths.

Seomun Sulin’s boiling anger began to temper, settling slightly.

Well, as long as the girl was safe, that was what mattered.

After all, who was there to see a sleeping figure? Even if it looked a bit shabby—or rather extremely shabby—what did it matter?

Moreover, while she hadn’t seen her for a while, her face had grown even more delicate, and her long limbs certainly indicated a transformation.

While not at the level of a Supreme Martial Artist, it was common for someone to retain their previous level of mastery while their physique changed significantly.

Such missed insights would eventually return, so there was no point in lamenting.

But why was she only wearing a bandage across her chest?

Though there were no blood stains or scents of injury, the fragrant scent of medicine caused Seomun Sulin’s stomach to flip.

As she reached out, Qing’s chest bandage subtly pulled down, revealing the gruesome stitched wound beneath!

Just a little deeper, and it could have shattered a rib; a bit deeper, and it would have cracked her heart—a truly horrific mark.

Thinking that she must be in pain, lying down to take medicine, Seomun Sulin rushed forward to check her pulse, only to find a remarkably developed healthy blood flow compared to before, alongside numerous traces of Demonic Arts…

Seomun Sulin’s fury exploded, shooting up and breaking through the ceiling.

“You wretched girl—!”

Whack!!!

—-

With teardrops glistening like dew inside her eyelids and the top of her head bulging, Qing knelt on the floor and raised both hands high.

“That girl, carelessly rolling around, has made quite a mess. Impressive, indeed.”

“They promised that the scar wouldn’t remain…”

“Huh? A boast, is it? Then what in the world is that chaotic patchwork on your body? They say Demonic Arts fade away as if they never existed?”

“No, that’s not it…”

“Not it?”

“Hehe. I just wanted to see my Master. I missed you, a lot.”

Qing, keeping her hands raised, naturally bent forward to offer a deep bow.

Seomun Sulin had reached a high level of mastery, appearing like a noblewoman, yet she was an old veteran of the Jianghu who had lived far longer than Choi Riyong.

Given the time she had lived, she knew that Qing’s gesture was not merely to placate the current situation.

It was instead filled with genuine longing, melting away her previous grievances.

With a deep sigh, Seomun Sulin said, “So, the girl who claimed to miss me has been lounging comfortably at someone else’s home.”

“They said it wouldn’t leave a scar, so I was worried it might.”

That single line melted away her remaining grievances.

Still, not ready to forgive outright, Seomun Sulin shot back another pointed remark.

“Ah. So, you plotted to make me a foolish teacher, completely unaware that your chest nearly got torn apart.”

“Hehe. Actually, it has already been torn open. Ouch!”

Whack!!!

Qing tumbled across the floor.

Ouch. Got hit again!

A master of martial arts never misses their mark.

Even disregarding distance, her strikes were like entangled light and dark, powerful enough to transcend science.

Advanced martial practice surpasses even the laws of nature.

Ignoring the fiery discomfort in her head, Qing raised her hands again at the sight of Seomun Sulin’s fierce glare.

“Sigh. How is it that all I have left of this disciple is a temperament that I can’t stand?”

If Hell truly existed, filled with burning villains, she’d surely be cursing her fate for having tasted enlightenment through the depths of suffering!

“Right. But seriously, what kind of Demonic Arts have you learned? I clearly instructed you to avoid them.”

“Well, it’s not like I learned them on my own…”

In front of Seomun Sulin, Qing sounded eerily similar to Tang Nan-ah.

“If you didn’t want to learn, then did someone threaten you with a knife to learn Demonic Arts?”

“It’s just how things ended up…”

Seomun Sulin’s eyes narrowed.

Thinking about it, Qing wasn’t just notable for her temperament; she also possessed exceptional talents far surpassing mere temperament.

It wouldn’t be surprising if some rogue had taken a liking to her and forced her to learn Demonic Arts.

But even so, there should have been some limits.

“No, which scoundrels could take someone else’s disciple and force them to learn Demonic Arts? Surely the Demon Cult wouldn’t resort to kidnapping.”

“Well, they did indeed kidnap me…”

Seomun Sulin’s expression grew serious.

“The Demon Cult? Ah. Considering you’re safe, it seems you managed to get away. More importantly, let’s hear exactly what Demonic Arts you learned. We need to know how to deal with this.”

“Er, well, I learned Master of Thunder Arts and Master of Dark Demon Arts…”

Actually, the Demon Cult had only forced those two techniques on her.

The others were things Qing had fiercely unraveled on her own.

“Hundred-Eight Sura Sword, Ice Sky’s Demonic Arts, Blood Demon King’s Divine Skill, and Tang Young Girl’s Art. That’s about it.”

“…You’ve learned quite a lot. My, oh my, and you’ve acquired four out of the Ten Greatest Demonic Arts. At this rate, you might gather them all!”

“But I also learned good things! Such as the Qi Regeneration Technique and the Great Chengseng’s Arts.”

“Wait. No.”

Seomun Sulin waved her hand.

The Demonic Arts had a clear origin, and since she was kidnapped by the Demon Cult, it was evident their intent was to mark her as a Demon.

But the Qi Regeneration Technique? Great Chengseng’s Arts?

What kind of Shaolin monk and Amin could possibly have been captured together, and those who possess Divine Skills at that?

“Hmm. No. And then?”

Seomun Sulin’s expression softened.

Qing had always been one to learn strange things while out in the Jianghu.

Somehow, she believed that there was some secret means she couldn’t speak about; thinking back, even the question about what would be good to learn was deeply meaningful.

“I also learned the Heavenly Moon Jade Maiden Divine Skill. And it was definitely mentioned that the Girl’s Joyous Mirror is a heart method of the Dao.”

“A bit bizarre, but yes, that’s correct.”

“Ah, and this was given to me as a gift, so I wasn’t sure if I should learn it.”

Qing pulled out the Nengpa Mibo secret manual from a drawer in the Guest Hall.

Seomun Sulin’s expression hardened again as she skimmed through it.

It was a day when her facial muscles were working very hard.

“This is… no ordinary thing.”

“It’s called Nengpa Mibo.”

“So, the Great Wheel of Law has established itself in the Demon Cult, huh? Hmm? You didn’t say you learned the Wheel of Law, though.”

Qing’s expression revealed her answer.

If Qing was unaware, then surely nobody in the world would know.

Seomun Sulin switched her question.

“Did the person who passed this on to you belong to the Demon Cult?”

“No, it was given to me by someone in the royal family.”

“Ah, from the royal family… This is something you should burn after learning. It’s a thing that calls bloodshed.”

“Ah, they mentioned something about a bloodstorm?”

“Indeed. That one book has led to the annihilation of an entire sect, so it’s something the world craves.”

This was the common tragedy that arises when those unworthy of protection possess treasures.

“Oh, is it a good martial skill?”

“It is the best method known to man. I’ve heard that when perfected, its movements are like the wind, impossible to grasp by anything in the world. Even at its worst, it can merely safeguard one’s life; one can indeed call it the best divine skill.”

“Then, what if we did something regarding our Divine Maiden Sect? I’ve already memorized it all. We could just change the name to something like Divine Maiden Divine Skill.”

Seomun Sulin smiled gently.

To her disciple, the best divine skill was merely something that was nice to have or not have.

The problem was that she didn’t understand how terrifying Demonic Arts were, making them seem equally valid.

But had the world ever been made of just one aspect?

Yin and Yang, light casts shadows behind bright things; that’s simply the nature of the world.

Thus, it fell upon the old lady to hide her disciple’s shadows beneath her own.

“Alright. Let’s do that.”

Seomun Sulin tucked away the secret manual.

Under normal circumstances, she would refuse, but, for something that could ensure her disciples’ safety, it was worth enduring the shame of stealing the progress of a fallen sect.

“Ah, right. Let’s hear about it. How did you escape from the den of those vile Demon Cultists?”

The warmth in Seomun Sulin’s eyes melted Qing’s heart.

However, as was always the case in front of her master, she spilled out a bit too much.

“Ah, well… this disciple heroically thwarted the Demon Cult’s ambitions! Oh! Right, check this out. Ta-da! Heavenly Demon Summon! This here is the embodiment of the Heavenly Demon! So, what happened was…”

As Qing rambled on, the Heavenly Demon Soul rose from her palm.

Veins popped on Seomun Sulin’s forehead.

Naturally, it was now Qing’s turn for something to rise atop her head.

Then, with a crack!!!

The sound of a nut cracking echoed crisply across the clear skies beyond the door.