Chapter 270

For the people of the Central Plain, ranking and classification is something special.

In the ancient, primitive, and barbaric Central Plain, it costs money to have fun, so it was practically the only form of entertainment that didn’t require a dime.

And the Martial World Tournament was a massive event, the ultimate game for men, women, and children alike, where one could claim information and enjoy it first, thus attracting people from all over the Central Plain.

Currently, the hot topic that’s got everyone buzzing is none other than Seomun Qing.

Having entered the realm of supreme martial artists at the tender age of twenty, she surpassed even the legendary Great Master Mucheondae, making her the most accomplished individual in the entire history of martial arts—indeed, a true prodigy through the ages.

So when it comes to martial prowess, she’s hailed as the next Number One in the World, the current strongest in the later ranks, an amazing talent that commands the title of the most gifted.

However, this is simply not entertaining.

Ranking and classification play need that fiery clash of opinions, where heated arguments often lead to heads being smashed in intense brawls—that’s when the real fun begins.

No one disputes that Seomun Qing is a prodigy for the ages, so naturally, the combative instincts of the people of the Central Plain were drawn to her beauty.

Qing typically hangs out with Tang Nan-ah.

In recent days, Mo Yong Joo-hee has been sticking to her like a cicada.

This has led to a self-comparison situation.

To express it in the local style, it’s like having a singer attached to an actress—when looked at separately, both are stunning beauty, but together, only one woman really stands out.

Thus, she became the most beautiful flower among flowers.

The flower among flowers—Seomun Qing!

In fact, that was the unofficial title of the most beautiful in the world.

But a great war has erupted here.

The Five Beauties of the Martial World are each endowed with different charms, and according to personal tastes and dispositions, each has their own followers.

Originally, the Five Beauties of the Martial World were categorized into sects.

Tang Nan-ah and Mo Yong Joo-hee belong to one sect, the two short ones.

Dokhwa and Geomhwa appeal to followers who prefer petite and cute women.

So you see, even though Qing is undeniably more beautiful, her towering height is simply too much to handle, making it hard for some to appreciate her.

Nevertheless, since those two insist on sticking by her side for comparison, they’ve reluctantly acknowledged her beauty.

Sure, she’s not cute, but they’re willing to admit she might just deserve being called the most beautiful in the world.

Still, the followers of the other three are quite rebellious.

First up is Jin Seol. Not too tall or short—just quite ordinary, as white lilies go.

Jin Seol’s charm is her reputedly perfect size and shape, which has gained her quite a reputation. The white lily carries the confidence of showing off her daring curves.

Then there’s Seolhwa, a tall, cold-looking beauty with a lovely tear mole that adds a touch of allure—her fans claim she’s icy but will be warmer than anyone for their man.

And even if Hyeonhwa has a fierce appearance, her fans argue she’s still the epitome of beauty.

Thus, as the new Seomun Guardian faction and the followers of Dokhwa and Geomhwa rally behind Qing as the most beautiful, the other three’s groups simply refuse to acknowledge it.

So originally, the title went to the most beautiful flower, Seomun Qing, but after countless brawls and some heads rolling, she eventually became the “flower of flowers”, earning the nickname “Heaven Flower”.

For Qing to be recognized as the most beautiful in the martial world, she still needs to put in some serious effort.

She’ll have to stick closely to the other three, flaunting her beauty while asking if they can feel the power difference, you could bet she’ll probably think of all sorts of strategies.

Of course, Qing has no thoughts about this.

“Ha. What good is being pretty? My man should be handsome. Besides, do I really see my own face?”

Qing says this, but whenever she glances in the mirror, it’s always a fresh shock, but that’s about it—her only concern is avoiding the hassle of people crowding around.

Moreover, since she’s been told to use her beauty to benefit the world and become famous, Seomun Sulin snatched away her face, leaving her with no way to hide.

Still, Qing is quite indifferent.

Unlike the obsessive followers of Oki-rin, she doesn’t make a fuss. She only glances around, occasionally bumping into someone or tripping over something.

Besides, she naturally doesn’t ever let things bother her too much, as she’s so laid back.

When they meet, she greets warmly, plays hard when it’s time to have fun, and when parting time comes, she easily waves goodbye.

Surprisingly, she fits into a common category.

She doesn’t take the initiative to message first, which makes it seem like she’s ghosting, but when contacted, she responds as if nothing happened.

That’s why it’s a bit hard to understand when she sees her tearful Tang Nan-ah.

“Are we gonna see each other again?”

“Who knows, maybe we will?”

“What?! Am I the only one who cares? Qing, doesn’t this bother you? We might never see each other again!”

“Hey, I could drop by the Tang Clan, or you could come visit the Divine Maiden Sect. Once the Five Beauties are out, word will spread quickly all around. If I’m nearby, think I won’t drop by?”

“Why do you sound like it’s someone else’s problem? You’re a flower too, part of the Six Harmonies of Martial Arts!”

“Aren’t I still unofficial? Well, if you hear that Supreme Martial Artist Qing has shown up, you could come visit.”

“Ugh.”

Tang Nan-ah looked quite disappointed.

But she’s also been caught up with the solitude of the Blood Sect.

One of the best poison experts from the Tang Family can’t afford to miss out on research, and she’s eager to unravel the mysteries of poison quickly.

Once that wraps up, she hastily separates from the rest, leaving one by one for distant or nearby journeys.

“Hey, Senior Sword, do you think we can meet as Supreme Martial Artists next time? I feel like we’re on completely different levels even if we’re friends.”

“Hmph, just wait and see.”

Namgung heads towards Anhui Province.

“It would be perfect if Qing could come visit now. Hubei’s really refreshing. They say this summer will be hot, so if you’re heading for a getaway, be sure to swing by the Tang Clan.”

“Of course, Senior. Enjoy the mountains.”

“See you next time.”

Mountain bid a calm farewell.

“Young Lady Seomun, if you happen to pass through Jiangsu Province, please be sure to visit the family’s main house in Nanjing!”

“Oh. Nanjing. Nanjing. Why does that sound so familiar? What’s in Nanjing? What’s it famous for? Maybe Jang Myung will take me there.”

“Well, uh, Nanjing is…”

Gongson Yo-ye’s shoulders slumped.

“It’s hot…”

If one were to name the hottest cities in the Central Plain, Nanjing would certainly be among them.

Of course, while deserts exist here and there in the Central Plain, those places are considered far off and aren’t counted as part of the central territory.

This also connects to how Qing’s people categorize all land outside of the capital as the countryside.

“Ehh, how hot could it possibly be? I’m thinking my feelings are way hotter! Are you saying our love can be diminished by the heat?”

“Ah…”

As Qing held onto Gongson Yo-ye’s hand, she thought to herself, secretly feeling a thrill despite her dislike for the heat. Better not go.

After all, they’d be seeing each other again soon.

Unlike Tang Nan-ah, the later rankers living close to the Martial Alliance respond quickly because they’re nearby. Typically, those who live together end up heating up their meals together.

And soon enough, Qing, a promising young master from the Martial Alliance, will be fully pointed out.

As the representative of female martial artists and the first female Supreme Martial Artist, this aligns well with Seomun Sulin’s hopes to actively promote her to the rest of the world.

So, it’s unlikely Qing will have many ways to escape.

“Ugh, I’ve been wandering too much; all my joints feel stiff. Could my disciple rub them for me this winter? Can I get some pampering, too?”

“Of course, I’ll give you a thorough massage while you keep those joints feeling stiff!”

“You little rascal.”

After circling around Jeolgeumbyeok, they returned to the Divine Maiden Sect to spend the autumn, and by winter, Qing planned to finish her training with Merchant Shintu at the Hall of Literature.

“Alright, it’s time to return this.”

“Oh, wait. My Magic Flute!”

Qing brightened at the sight of the treasure she had completely forgotten about. Truth be told, she hadn’t missed it as she hadn’t had to play a flute, so it had totally slipped her mind.

Cheon Yu-hak clicked his tongue.

“You leave this precious item with me and now act like you’ve forgotten it? Tsk tsk.”

“Oh come on, what does a warrior need with a flute? Ah, guess I should return this—”

“Forget it. Even as a woman, you should carry a dagger. In case some wicked scoundrel comes looking to do you harm, stab them with that. It’s the sharpest dagger in the world, so you won’t need to put in much force.”

“Hehe, thank you!”

Qing tucked the Cheongja Dagger back into her possession.

Cheon Yu-hak, claiming he had work to do at the Hall of Literature, left her with a frown.

“Um, Young Lady Seomun.”

“Young Lady Mo Yong. How are you feeling?”

“Thanks to you.”

Mo Yong Joo-hee had thought a lot over the past few days.

And she had come to a conclusion.

For a long time, she had harbored a deep-seated resentment.

Those horrific and brutal tortures, the terrible times spent not just in pain but in a complete shredding of human dignity.

Thinking she would lose her mind if she didn’t resolve it, she felt ready to burst, and so her hatred turned toward Qing.

If only you had come a little earlier, or if you hadn’t put me through such a horrifying disassembly, I’d hate you, it’s all your fault.

But now she had let it go.

Because in the end, it would be a pain she’d carry for life, and though she might shudder in pain whenever it crossed her mind, she had to endure until it faded into a mere scar—whenever that might be.

What Mo Yong Joo-hee saw in Seomun Qing was nothing less than a monster.

When she felt that devastation of being torn apart, the twisted joy similar to a shriek echoed in her ears. That’s why she thought of her as a monster, feeling justified in hating.

But now, she understood.

Some people have to go crazy just to endure. Perhaps Young Lady Seomun carries some sort of madness with the pain she bears for life.

Now, she could see the gratitude.

Understanding that her kindness to embrace others despite her pain, her noble deeds to show goodwill, and most importantly, the warmth of her being that whispered that it would be okay—how much of a comfort that was.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. For saving me, guiding me, and holding me close—thank you so much. I don’t think I’ve said that yet.”

“Oh please, now I get to be appreciated? Do you know how hard it’s been for me? Hmph. Well then, take care. I’m sure we’ll meet again sometime.”

Qing cheerfully waved goodbye.

But Mo Yong Joo-hee merely lingered in her spot.

“Um, I know I have to endure, and it’s something I must bear, but if it ever gets really tough, like feeling like I’m the only one suffering in the world, I might ask for a little favor from Young Lady Seomun…”

“Hmm? What is it?”

Mo Yong Joo-hee’s face turned bright red.

At that moment, a chill ran through her, like her nails were pinching her in a biting shock, sharp and penetrating like a bolt of lightning, a startling sensation that made her feel paralyzed. This kind of pain could overwrite painful memories with something new. There was a voice, a cool touch, like an elegant whisper of a snake—a sting.

“Young Lady Mo Yong?”

Qing tilted her head, looking at Mo Yong Joo-hee, who was twisting her body as though she was hit by a sudden wave.

What’s up, summer flu? Something no one gets?

“No, no! I’m fine, maybe… it’s just that since I’ve finally expressed my true feelings, if you leave now, when will I get to see you again?”

“Well, if it gets too hard, take a break at the Divine Maiden Sect. If you explain the situation to Master, she’ll likely let you stay among the disciples.”

“Do I dare?”

“It’s not like I’ll be there just because you are. They’re all good friends. Oh, and if you cause trouble at the Divine Maiden Sect, I won’t see you again, not even as a punishment. So be good, alright?”

“I’ll behave! Yes, yes!”

Mo Yong Joo-hee steeled her determination.

Be good, be good.

Then when I see Young Lady Seomun again, I’ll candidly speak and ask for something; she’s such a kind person, I’m sure…

Qing tilted her head.

Is she still not feeling well? For someone who seems that way, her eyes are really bright.

—-

Qing joined the Shaolin monks heading to Shaolin Temple.

Actually, Sungshan is really just a stone’s throw away, so there isn’t much of a schedule.

Everyone is doing a quick pace for kung fu training, making plans to have dinner at Sungshan—because that’s how things go.

Not being used to speed walking just yet, Qing’s horse made quite a racket with its clattering hooves.

Then, she caught up with Monk Wolbong, who was fiercely focused ahead.

“Monk Wolbong, you’re not still sulking, are you? I’ve cleared my heart, so if there’s anything on your mind, let’s settle it now.”

“No, no! I have no grudges; it’s just my lack of meditation, I apologize.”

“Monk? Will you please look me in the eyes when you’re talking? Why are you staring at the ground?”

At that, Monk Wolbong looked at Qing and stumbled, crashing to the ground with a loud noise.

Then he yelled:

“Waaah, what a headache! Headaches for days! Namu Amita Buddha…”

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