There’s a saying about killing with a borrowed knife.
It means using someone else’s strength to carry out an evil scheme.
Even though the Namyeon Sect Warriors were surely watching when the fire was lit, they didn’t say a word.
The old man shamelessly let out a snort.
“Hmph. What can I do? A rural bumpkin like me knows no martial arts, so how could I possibly deal with those dogs?”
“Aren’t you being a bit too confident?”
“You are the ones who drew your swords, aren’t you? It wouldn’t matter if there was no bloodshed.”
It’s not like I asked you to kill them, you guys just went ahead and did it, Qing thought in disbelief.
“Well, we are masters. Or rather, I am too much of a master to share a table with you. But anyway, it’s because we’re strong that those lowlifes are hesitating. If it weren’t for us, they would’ve gone wild at the sight of the beautiful women, right?”
“With a big shot like one in charge, a tremendous beauty by his side, and a ragtag one running around, if she had even a speck of dust on her clothes, they would surely be warriors of great skill.”
The old man looked at Je-gal Lee-hyun, Tang Nan-ah, and Gyeon Pohee in turn, finally landing his gaze on Qing.
“Oh? What’s this? Why am I the ragtag one?”
“The masked girl must have her reasons for keeping her face hidden.”
It was common sense in the martial world that if someone hid their face, it meant they didn’t want to show their ugly mug, or they couldn’t freely show it because they were of noble status. Such noblewomen wouldn’t carry swords around in a disgraceful manner.
“Anyway, I got to see a thrilling sight before I die, so make sure to get me that poison. It’ll be quick, so take it and leave. With three of them dead, they’ll be coming at us like a pack of hungry wolves.”
“Then what about you, old man?”
“What would an old fool do while alive? Just end up picking on my useless grandson. If I want to avoid that sight, I should just hang myself, right? Speaking of which, this poison will be my last work.”
That sounded bleak for someone speaking so casually.
Qing frowned.
“What is this? Trying to invoke sympathy?”
“It’s not like I plan to ask for help. Whether someone hangs themselves or drowns in molten metal, it doesn’t concern me. Before you all arrived, I was just hanging around, waiting for a chance to take one of them down and escape.”
Qing remembered the old man’s cold gaze as he quietly watched from the shadows.
The vicious old man really was trying to take one of them down and leave, it seemed.
“Why don’t you ask for help instead of planning to die?”
“Hmph. Who would I ask? Even if I went to another sect, they’re all in cahoots. Even the officials take bribes and choose sides, so who would I complain to for help?”
“But the Zhengpai exists, doesn’t it? You know, the orthodox one.”
“Hmph. Zhengpai or Sapa, aren’t they all just martial world folks? They’re all just killers with weapons. Isn’t that what you all do? If you want something, you take it, threaten if necessary, and if it doesn’t work, you take it out on someone else. So what can you do? If you don’t know martial arts and are weak, you just die.”
Tang Nan-ah flared up at that.
“What the heck is this old guy…!”
“Enough. He’s not wrong,” Qing stopped her.
The old man grinned slyly as if to say, “What’s your excuse?”
After all, it was true that there was no Zhengpai in the city.
If all you’d ever met were the lowly rogues of Sapa, what difference did it make? In fact, it might be that the ones who merely preach about righteousness without lifting a finger were the ones more despised.
“It’s childish for a provocation, but I’ll let it slide this once. I’ll look for my grandson, so just don’t die and wait for me.”
“Help you? Hmph. Even if you try to act generous, it won’t help.”
“Who asked you to make me a weapon? You’re making me laugh. If it breaks, it’s discarded, right? Why would I save a blade just because it’s good?”
Qing was reckless with her weapons.
Just look at how she named them.
There’s the Moonlight Sword, and the hellish one is the Hell’s Kill Blade.
The Magic Flute was no different.
If there is an afterlife, that will be the level of vengeance with which old Ban-chi would return from the grave, shedding blood tears and turning into a Jiangshi to take revenge on those who abused the Magic Flute.
Next thing you know, adding just one more bad spirit would turn into Magic Flute 2.0.
“In exchange for that, I’ll be the one to take the fall. If someone makes a fuss and I have to escape, you can hang me or drown me in molten metal, it’s no problem.”
With that, Qing turned away.
As she crossed the front yard of the iron cage, one corner of her vision sparkled, begging for the mission screen to be opened.
She pulled up the mission screen and then dismissed it without a glance.
After all, it would likely be a surprise mission with the usual content—either help the old man or rob someone, or go kill the villains.
“Sister, calm down first.”
Then Je-gal Lee-hyun caught Qing.
Only then did Qing realize her mistake.
She usually caused a ruckus alone in these situations, forgetting that she had companions.
“Right. I’ll go have some fun, so you all go to the public square first. Don’t worry about me. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll just run away.”
“Thinking back, you did do the same in Luoyang. But, sister, do you know how upset Brother Peng was back then?”
“Huh? Why?”
“If you had just asked for help, Brother Peng or I, or even Brother Huangbo, would have had no problem taking down that little Sapa. But you just left without a word.”
Ugh, Qing waved her hand dismissively.
“Well, of course I do. Just because we’re close doesn’t mean we have to be tied together. I take responsibility for my choices. And technically, I’m not even formally part of the Divine Maiden Sect. My master said not to put up with any nonsense from you.”
Hearing that, Je-gal Lee-hyun’s face visibly fell.
“If you really thought we were close, you should’ve at least tried to persuade me once. Instead of just saying, ‘I’ll do what I want, so let’s part ways.’”
Hmm. Is that really such a hurtful thing?
Qing tilted her head in confusion.
“But I’m already a top-tier master at running away. My master even said if I’m serious about running, no one in the world could catch me, so I’m not really in any danger. But if you all come with me, it might be dangerous.”
“So this time it’s your responsibility?”
“Huh?”
“If you suggest we go together and we do, then it’s your responsibility. So you don’t have to worry about me.”
“Does that even make sense? Because of me?”
“Hah. Fine. I’ll just follow you around like a lost puppy, and whatever happens will be my decision.”
“No, wait.”
Qing grimaced at the sudden interjection from Tang Nan-ah.
“Yeah, I’m going too, Qing. If things get hairy, I’ve got something with me.”
Tang Nan-ah proudly pulled out a round object the size of a fist from somewhere.
Je-gal Lee-hyun’s face turned pale.
“Are you… carrying explosives everywhere?”
“Oh, don’t worry. It won’t explode unless you make it.”
That was a statement so common it practically made up the majority of the last words of those who died from explosives.
‘It’s fine, it won’t explode.’ And then, boom!
—-
The group confidently crossed the horse station.
The good thing about having Je-gal Lee-hyun along was that you could just ask for directions once and he’d have the whole route figured out.
“We turn left just ahead. Then the first large street to the right at the big square.”
“Hmm. Is there no speeding fine?”
“Excuse me?”
“Just saying it for fun. Don’t mind me.”
The comment was completely lost on Je-gal Lee-hyun.
Jokes aside, Qing’s confidence was as bold and natural as if she were walking into battle.
“Of course. I always have a plan.”
“May I hear it?”
“Hmm. I’ll go and demand old Ban’s son to be handed over.”
“? Will they just hand him over? And it’s grandson, not son.”
“Son or grandson, it’s all the same. If they refuse, we attack. Block the main gate, I’ll take the front, and you all take the back. If they don’t come out, Nan-ah draws her weapon and we lure them in.”
“……?”
“If a supreme master steps out, then it’s all up to the transcendent Seomun Qing to handle it. The end.”
“Indeed.”
Je-gal Lee-hyun nodded, then said, “Is it too late to back out of this?”
“I won’t hold back anyone who wants to leave.”
“Can’t you at least pretend to hold someone back?”
If it were the usual Je-gal Lee-hyun, he would have tried to convince them to go back right here. But after what he had seen of Seomun Qing, he knew that more detailed plans wouldn’t matter to someone who would simply charge in alone.
Moreover, seeing her full of confidence, there was a hint of expectation as to what else she might bring to the table.
Tang Nan-ah, on the other hand, had no ulterior motives.
Her mindset was simply to go take down the bad guys.
It was an attitude commonly held by a chick just stepping into the martial world.
At this point, one might suspect that idiocy might just be radiating from Qing.
However, Gyeon Pohee was unaffected.
Because she generally had no thoughts at all.
And so, at last, the large gate with the Namyeon Sect plaque came into view.
Qing didn’t stop and boldly pressed on.
The warriors lounging at the main gate noticed the group, and upon seeing Tang Nan-ah’s face, their mouths dropped open in surprise.
As they approached confidently, they wondered whether they were simply guests from somewhere.
As Qing saw their reaction, she pondered why the Sapa rogues never seemed to show a hint of wickedness, peering out from their posts.
“What brings you here?”
“We’re looking for old Ban’s son or grandson. If you hand him over peacefully, we can avoid a bloodbath.”
“Huh?”
“Go tell him. It’s my mood today.”
Qing stomped her right foot with a bang and shot off like a cannonball using the Moon Lady’s Step technique.
As she came to a halt in front of the Namyeon Sect warriors, she swung her left arm forward and grabbed one by the collar, tossing him.
The man’s body floated up, crashing into the wall without making it over, striking the top and sending tiles crashing down as he toppled over.
Qing looked embarrassed.
“Sorry. I’m just a bit short on strength. I could’ve sent him flying with both hands.”
![[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come](https://i3.wp.com/darkmtl.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1737407792-8993-TS-The-end-of-magical-girls-has-come.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come")
