Chapter 172

“Why, it’s a flower beggar! Got a problem with that?”

“But, but you’re fat…”

“Hey, peonies are flowers, and so are lotuses, right? Just because they’re big doesn’t mean they’re not flowers!”

“But those two are pretty…”

“Wow, look at you, making such bold statements. Alright, you’re so great. Now go on, flower beggar, or should I say, beggar sister, and get some sleep.”

“Ah. Uhm. Well then, um, pumpkin flowers, they are pretty too, so how about pumpkins? Or maybe cucumbers, ack!”

Mo Yongjun rolled around on the ground again, completely oblivious to his expensive silk clothes becoming covered in dirt.

According to Qing’s personal philosophy, kids are basically dirt-related creatures who live off digging into the ground, so it’s fine if they roll around a bit.

The force behind his actions had weakened significantly compared to before, so it was just a mediocre “face-slap” and not worthy of the almighty title “nuke.”

But getting hit again would surely hurt worse.

After rolling around for a while, Mo Yongjun, now seeming wronged, shot Qing a look full of betrayal, with teardrops welling up in his eyes.

“Why, why?”

“I told you, no bad words.”

“But the beggar sister said our father was right. Those with their faces covered—”

“Alright. If I call you the kid who wet the bed, would you like it? Does that mean you never wet the bed? Not even once?”

“Ah.”

“‘Ah’ what? Enough. Beggar sister is going to sleep.”

Qing then lay flat on the ground, causing Mo Yongjun to hesitantly stand there and gently rub the top of his head.

“Um, beggar sister. Won’t it be uncomfortable sleeping here? How about going to the kitchen? Not at my house, or no, not at our house?”

Regardless of the circumstances, the kid is kind-hearted.

Lying down, Qing responded,

“Think about the kitchen people too. They wouldn’t be pleased if a beggar came along, right?”

“Ah.”

“That’s enough. It’s late, so don’t wander around alone, okay? Huh? What time is it now?”

Qing immediately lay back and looked at the sky.

The clear moon shone softly, and judging by its position, it was about three in the morning, modernly translated, the hour when a person’s feelings swell and they might send a message without realizing it.

“What, a precious young master wandering around alone in the middle of the night? How dangerous.”

“Ah. I’m not alone. I’m out with the Green Guard, Sir Roh. Right, Sir Roh?”

“Glurk.”

Suddenly, a sound like someone clearing their throat reached my ears, and looking over, I spotted a Black Robed Man peering this way from the shadow of the wall.

His energy was concealed, so the realm was uncertain, but I knew a piece of information; his evil deeds exceeded Li Bai’s early twenties.

What the heck, I didn’t even notice him at all.

But wait, is he a bad guy?

Qing tensed up.

Then, the Green Guard waved his hand as if signaling to calm down, prompting Qing to think of Grandpa all of a sudden.

Right, there could be another person like Grandpa, and since the kid was stubborn and persistent, he might also be kind and cute.

If he had come out in modern times, he would have made a fortune as the nation’s little brother with top-notch looks.

Wait, doesn’t that mean he listened to my gender equality education too?

Why didn’t he just say anything?

Did he think it was something Ajun had to hear?

Well, a reasonable adult wouldn’t interrupt my beneficial lecture, after all.

But would he be so mean as to rush in with a love paddling knowing it would tear my heart apart?

“Sir Roh said he got hurt in the neck before.”

“Hmm. His family must be worried. It’s late; hurry home. You might not mind the night, but Sir Roh might be sleepy.”

“Sir Roh usually stays awake at night. During the day, Sir Baek watches over him.”

“You always have a way out, don’t you…”

Qing lay sprawled out, mumbling.

She was already awake and clear-minded.

Trying to force herself to sleep here would only result in restless naps, waking up with a headache.

Anyway, since it was night, there was nothing to do, so she decided to practice martial arts.

“I’m going to practice now. So if you’re done here, go on and sleep. You need to sleep at night to grow taller.”

“Isn’t the beggar sister sleeping too much?”

“What are you talking about? Back in my day, a kid’s virtue was to only sleep one and a half hours a day. If you slept longer, you’d never grow big.”

What kind of nonsense is that?

Whoever said such a thing, really.

For reference, the saying “one and a half hours of sleep means you pass, while five hours means you fail” stemmed from the harsh examination culture of the Han people.

“Ah! My father said that too. Two hours of sleep is enough, and if you can’t sleep, you shouldn’t force it—just practice if you’re bored.”

“So you’re wandering around now…”

I couldn’t tell if he was strict or lenient as a father.

However, the child showed no signs of hesitation when mentioning his father, so he must be a dad who dotes on his child.

“Then practice with me. I’m stronger than the warriors of the Three Families!”

“I only mix swords with top-notch ones. How about you train a bit more before coming?”

“Practicing together would be great…”

Qing let out a snort of laughter.

“Yeah, let’s practice. Practice pays off…”

—-

The idea that two hours of sleep was enough, coming from Mo Yongjun’s father, is somewhat true.

Once masters have undergone a transformative change, they only need two hours a day.

And those who possess divine skills, which excel in relieving mental fatigue, fall under this category as well.

Qingfit both definitions, but she preferred sleeping and ended up sleeping more than a typical master.

In any case, her daily routine remained the same.

During the day, she’d laze around, eat a hearty dinner, then lie down, clutching her full belly, and enjoy a post-meal nap, waking up in the dead of night to wield her sword.

It was highly likely that Mo Yongjun would appear at night, casually practicing together.

And sometimes, he’d even pop up during the day, interrupting her sleep and being a nuisance.

“What, I need to sleep.”

“Wasn’t one and a half hours enough…?”

“I didn’t sleep back then, so I’m making up for it now. But do you know that person?”

Qing pointed at the man casting a look at her as if he were her enemy.

“Ah. That person is Sir Baek.”

“But why is he glaring at me like that? Did I do something wrong?”

“It’s not that. Sir Baek called the beggar sister a dirty whore, so you have to apologize. Our warrior is a bad adult, so I’m sorry. Let me apologize instead.”

“Oh my. How sweet. Alright, just keep growing like this. The future of Zhengpai Martial World is bright.”

Qing patted Mo Yongjun’s head affectionately.

At that moment, Sir Baek placed his hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist.

What was he going to do? Draw it?

As Qing smirked at him, his expression morphed into one like he’d bitten into something bitter.

The Green Guard, who had a high degree of evil deeds, occasionally greeted her when their eyes met, yet this guy was a total brat with no redeeming qualities.

He seemed like the type who would talk back to a kid.

So occasionally, when the kid would pop up during the day, Qing would purposefully engage with him, teasing Sir Baek.

And just like that, time flew by.

In the absence of special events, when daily life remains predictable and not especially tough, time passes swiftly.

However, as one grows older, their familiarity with life’s hardships reduces the frequency of special occurrences, which is why adults feel time speeds by.

As spring began showing itself, the clothes felt heavy.

During the day it was warm, and at night it turned slightly cool, so Qing, tough from rigorous training against the cold, stripped down her padded clothing.

It was discarded fabric, so she could handle it however she pleased.

“Hey, beggar sister? Have you lost weight? All of a sudden?”

“It’s just because the clothes are thick. Um, but where are you looking? A color demon’s dream revival?”

“Ah. Sorry. It’s just so fascinating… Is it heavy?”

“It is heavy. But don’t stare outright; it can attract bad thoughts. Just glance. Glance. Pretend like you’re not looking.”

Thanks to Tang Nan-ah, Qing learned to distinguish between lewd gazes and genuine curiosity from kids.

There was nothing sleazy or covetous in Tang Nan-ah’s glances; just pure innocent curiosity.

Anyway, curiosity doesn’t last long.

In fact, a few days later, Mo Yongjun quickly lost interest and stopped glancing.

However, there were still other kids who posed a problem.

“Even with your face covered, your figure’s not bad. If you don’t want to be seen, just cover up. Where did you set up shop?”

“Ah. Can you come over here for a moment?”

“Where to set up shop” meant the alley where one could quickly dispense information.

It implied a place to put something in quickly, as if hammering nails. The Central Plain folks sure loved their wordplay.

Although what the White Guard said, that all female beggars were dirty whores, was not something kids should hear, in terms of fact versus fiction, you could say it holds true.

Lying on the street, she could glimmeringly peek, but the face was obscured, so she couldn’t see anything.

But the shapes of her body drew out ‘wow! Oh my goodness! How could this be?!’ from the boys, igniting sinful thoughts alongside other bubbling confessions.

Having moved to an inconspicuous back alley, Qing struck the top of the guy’s head like it was her divine weapon.

Bang!

In that moment, it seemed like his head was getting squashed into a concave shape.

This wasn’t a reprimand but a punishment, executed with the ultimate “Divine Stick of Destruction,” a technique perfected by Seomun Sulin.

“What kind of sane guy does this in broad daylight?”

“Aaaaah! I’m dying!”

“You’re not dead because I pulled back. Get your head straight. If you mess around carelessly, this is what happens. Got it?”

“This crazy beggar’s trying to kill me, urgh. Your martial arts are pretty strong. You could’ve warned me…”

The rock that had been in his hand turned into fine powder in Qing’s grip, scattering in the air.

The guy, who was about to yell out, suddenly quieted down.

“Watch where you’re messing around; you’re not the only one who’ll get hurt. You just learned a big life lesson, right? Leave your tuition fee.”

“Yes, teacher. I’ll leave two here.”

“Good.”

That day alone, after having stripped three guys of their money, Qing thought, “Shouldn’t the rumor spread about the fierce female beggar? They shouldn’t bother me anymore, right?”

Qing’s thoughts were naive.

There was no way a rumor like that would circulate.

How would a guy tell others he got beaten by a beggar, let alone a female one, and had to pay tuition?

In fact, the rumors went in a completely opposite direction.

‘Hey, didn’t you just score big today? Why do you have no cash? Weren’t you going to treat us?’

‘No, it’s just that… I gave some to a female beggar.’

‘A female beggar? You’re going crazy. Isn’t twenty coins enough? Did you get hit while handing over a silver coin?’

‘No, not that. Actually, the thing is, um, she was so good that it moved me, so I had to give a little more.’

‘Huh? That’s the case? Should I go check it out?’

‘Oh well, um, yeah. You should definitely go. You should experience it at least once in your life—it almost took me to paradise. I mean, I went there for a moment, and then back.’

Suddenly, guys had their money vanish, following a similar narrative to escape the questioning.

It was that childish mentality of not wanting to be the only one to suffer.

Thus, ten days later, in mid-April, amidst the blooming flowers of spring, Qing found her bag stuffed full of silver coins and change earned purely from tuition fees.

“What kind of town is in such a frenzy? No rumors spreading? Or do people really want to get slapped? The blackspots are quiet, so maybe it’s time to stop acting like a beggar.”

After giving another guy a big bump on the head, Qing grumbled.

But, perhaps because it was spring, everyone was out basking in the sun, and the streets were bustling with people.

Qing, carefree, lay around watching folks go by.

Then, all of a sudden, she felt a wave of unease and tilted her head.

Huh? Were there this many women in the city?

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