Chapter 281

The will of the stars is the fundamental nature given by the heavens to an individual.

In the Central Plain language, it’s called innate nature.

As a warrior’s realm increases, the number of things they can do multiplies.

And humans, by their nature, have this bizarre trait of wanting to do what they are capable of.

Why this is so, I cannot say.

In Qing’s hometown, countless humans exhibit strange behaviors simply because they can.

Thus, as a martial artist’s realm rises, they can no longer suppress their desires, and their true nature begins to emerge.

In fact, this could be said to be the difference between orthodox and heterodox martial sects.

The sects of Dao and Buddhism are fundamentally practitioners, so even as they grow stronger and more omnipotent, they cultivate the intention to maintain their center and self-restraint.

The safety measures of the prominent noble families led by the Ten Great Clans revolve around face-saving.

In order not to tarnish the family name and to preserve one’s own dignity.

They may be able to do things, but they refrain from anything that would bring disgrace.

However, it’s different for heterodox warriors.

The dream of a Sapa Warrior is fundamentally to live recklessly, manipulating the world without limit.

As their realm increases, they become more intoxicated with their power, progressively indulging in mischief, and if they cross the line or get caught, they quickly become a bandit.

In any case, for Qing’s true energy, every moment was a struggle.

The true energies were Qing’s will and unconsciousness, touching on the deepest levels of the unconscious.

However, this was originally a flow of nature and a borrowing of the world’s energy.

These true energies knew the secret inner workings Qing herself was unaware of, and they also recognized the flow of nature.

In fact, when big bursts occur, Daegyeongseon-gyeong usually suppresses them, but the true energy that endured the most hardship was Zhu Yang’s true energy and the Zhu Yang Mindfulness Sutra.

The Young Lady Hwanhee Jing realized her master was in danger from Heaven’s Kill and concluded to turn that deadly intent into nurturing intent to prevent a rampage.

But what a surprise.

This girl, despite being a stunning beauty and the world’s most beautiful noblewoman, had a lasciviousness that resembled Yang energy, similar to a man!

Thanks to this, the Young Lady Hwanhee Jing, whose name was already girl-like, had a hard time exerting the powers of Hwanhee Jin-gi.

So, the Young Lady Hwanhee Jing sought help from the Zhu Yang Mindfulness Sutra, who, rooted in the Dao, unlike the techniques of Buddhism, regarded personal joy as a form of nurturing art rather than a suffering.

Moreover, Zhu Yang’s true energy possessed the remarkable capability to cleanse the mind with pure Yang energy, protecting the original spirit.

Thus, there was an exceptional ability to beat back the deadly intent with a surge of lustful Yang energy, and they had worked hard without resting so far.

Thanks to this, no matter how thick Heaven’s Kill became, Qing’s deadly intent didn’t rampage to the extent of randomly murdering anyone.

There were a few side effects where the deadly intent was redirected, but that was the intention from the start, so it’s hard to call it a side effect.

Anyway, the true energies that reached the depths of the unconscious always found answers.

And now, having reached the supreme level, with Heaven’s Kill exploding forth, her master wavered before the fate of Heaven’s Kill, beginning to emanate starlight as her realm increased; she was completely overwhelmed, her eyes rolled back in her head.

Now she was utterly out of strength.

Prevention was difficult, and treatment was hard as well.

Ultimately, the core of her mind didn’t have the intention of a practitioner.

Therefore, she felt no aversion to Heaven’s Kill, nor did she make any effort to avoid it as if trying to escape from it.

Just like when hungry, one seeks food, when bloodthirsty, she roamed around seeking the vile humans.

Moreover, the selective activation of Heaven’s Kill was thanks to Zhu Yang Mindfulness Sutra’s heart-wrenching efforts.

Nevertheless, the true energies found an answer.

The true energies completely let go.

Trying to block it midway would only leave a lingering discomfort and regret, akin to an interrupted meal.

Instead, they decided to concentrate on the moments when satisfaction and fullness could be felt.

So, the true energies of Buddhism and Dao awaited their time.

There happened to be an incident where the Pachen Magi, unable to keep his wits about him while just laughing, got accidentally hit, but regardless, they waited to suppress at the right moment.

And now, at the moment when the breath of the vile human who had committed evil all their life and never felt a shred of shame was taken away.

As nerve cells boiled like molten metal in a furnace, flaring up with intense signals throughout the body.

The true energies of Buddhism and Dao were released in unison.

Sometimes, adding more fire is necessary to extinguish a flame.

When satisfaction is piled upon satisfaction, it leaves a long aftertaste, making it so one won’t even look at it for a while.

Moreover, after repeating this a few times, the master would grow accustomed to raising the true energy of Buddhism and Dao each time to sweep away Heaven’s Kill.

And thus, following the lewd guidance of Hwanhee Jin-gi, the true energies of Buddhism and Dao completely discarded face, propriety, and solemn seriousness, tickling Qing’s body with lewd gestures.

At this moment, the awakening true energy that had greatly crossed over into the master’s unconsciousness sensed there was no danger in a wide area.

Then, the true energies of Dao and Buddhism harbored their grudges until now, thinking they’d better be wary and avoid that Heaven’s Kill and practice demonic arts with moderation, filled their normal ill-will and wreaked havoc on their master.

The master’s spirit could no longer withstand it, and her consciousness snapped, rolling her eyes back, frothing at the mouth, and fainting.

—-

“…Jibanya-Baramilda Shidae Sinju Sidae Myeongju Mujeongju Mudeungdeungju Nungje Ilche Go Jin…”

Seoliri thought the chanting voice was truly clear and pure, really a pleasant sound, as she naturally awoke from sleep.

And like someone just waking up, she enjoyed the lingering sound while keeping her eyes closed.

Suddenly, she sat up in a hurry.

“Aje Aje Barah Aje Barah Seung Aje Moji Sahaba. Ah. Young Lady Seomun. You’re awake?”

However, what welcomed Seoliri was Qing, sitting cross-legged naked, with a warm and benevolent smile as she recited the Heart Sutra.

Somewhere, she looked incredibly relieved, as though she had shaken off some significant worry, her clear, deep, and sparkling eyes gazing at Seoliri.

Seoliri tilted her head in confusion.

Was Young Lady Seomun’s gaze always that distinctly clear?

Perhaps this was how a revered wise one, completely transcending worldly desires, would look.

However, Seoliri merely dismissed Qing’s nudity as just the way it is.

Whether sleeping or now, she probably always tends to strip down.

So, without any particular inquiries, it just didn’t concern her.

Maybe she wrestled with the coachman and got soaked, she thought, without any other questions. Ah, the coachman.

“What’s wrong?”

“No.”

Seoliri condensed her seemingly nonsensical thoughts about dreaming of a sudden attack by the coachman into three words.

Despite that revolutionary generosity, Qing merely smiled gently.

Then, suddenly, a bit of awkwardness seeped into Qing’s smile.

The front part of her fine eyebrows tilted slightly, creating a smile that looked as if she was in trouble directed towards Seoliri.

“Young Lady Seomun. Though it seems unnecessary to ask, still…”

“…?”

“Do you, by any chance, know how to drive a carriage?”

In truth, Qing was merely asking without any expectation.

But, what a surprise!

“I can.”

“As expected. It’s fine. I never hoped for anything from Young Lady Seomun. So, what can you actually do? Huh? Did you say you can drive a carriage? Really?”

“I can.”

Seoliri nodded again.

Qing’s eyes widened in surprise.

Her particularly clear eyes were now filled with astonishment.

Seoliri puffed up a little, then briefly questioned whether she should be proud of that.

Qing was genuinely amazed.

She was really, incredibly astonished!

What is this? A young lady who was raised delicately, knowing nothing of practical knowledge or even common sense, can actually drive a carriage?

How? Did she learn out of boredom?

Wow. Even a maggot can roll, they say.

I never knew she possessed such a humble skill.

“Well, right now, the coachman must be well on his way across the River Samdo, preparing to meet King Yama. Turns out, it’s not the first time something like this has occurred. Could we really leave such a notorious scoundrel alive? It’s not that I inadvertently let him escape; rather, as a part of the orthodox sect, executing the wicked, punishing evil is what I ought to do, so it’s not my fault.”

The reason why Qing regarded it as a humble skill is because, in reality, driving a carriage is a lowly task performed by the lower classes.

Thus, knowing how to do it makes it somewhat embarrassing to ask for assistance.

Thus, she couldn’t help but prolong the conversation.

“So, Young Lady Seomun, could you drive the carriage a bit? It’s better than walking in this rain.”

“I can.”

Seoliri readily agreed.

Walking while getting soaked is surely inferior to driving a carriage in the rain.

At least getting wet is the same, but if driving a carriage, one can sit comfortably.

Furthermore, the driver’s seat usually has a cover, so it becomes much less wet than trudging through the rain.

Besides, wasn’t it Qing who fought off the wicked when Seoliri was under the influence of medicine?

This naked state of hers must be because she got drenched while subduing that villain.

If not, she would’ve been in serious trouble.

It’s funny that the coachman beside her happened to pick such a notorious villain, but with a face that everyone could be fooled by a living Buddha, who could blame him?

At that moment, as Seoliri stood up to drive the carriage, Qing suddenly said,

“Oh! Right, Young Lady Seomun.”

Seoliri responded by gazing at Qing.

Then, Qing spoke with an apologetic expression.

“Since you’ll get wet anyway driving the carriage, mind if I take off my dry clothes and give them to you? I’ll put this on instead. Thinking about it, that was originally my outfit, right? Sorry for snatching it, but it isn’t necessary for both of us to be uncomfortably wet, is it?”

A vein popped up on Seoliri’s forehead.

—-

Instead of thanking Young Lady Seomun for driving the carriage in this inclement weather and stuffy nose, shouldn’t she at least do some of the bare minimum?

Clothes, food, a place to rest. If one possesses even the slightest sense of decency.

Yeah. Shouldn’t she have offered to step up first when it came time to find a coachman?

Qing grumbled inwardly.

It wasn’t that Seoliri didn’t hand over her dry clothes and just left; she was absolutely capable.

Moreover, Qing was already an expert in carriage traveling.

You might say there’s no skill in driving a carriage, but the traveler’s comfort varies greatly depending on the coachman’s ability.

Generally, the roads of the Central Plain are a complete mess.

Furthermore, due to the primitive science of the Central Plain, carriage riding is a thing where humane technological advancement hasn’t addressed ride comfort, so the way these terrible roads crunch under the wheels makes for a miraculous combo that gets transmitted right to the passenger’s butt.

Therefore, the coachman needs to skillfully manage the horses to maintain speed and minimize vibrations, easing the burden on the passengers.

Especially on a rainy day, the difficulty skyrockets.

Having to judge whether the mud is shallow or if it’s a deep pit where the wheels will sink, or if the wheels are going to capsize!

But on rainy days, the darkness is fundamental, and the falling rain obstructs vision with diagonal lines.

In that regard, Seoliri’s skills as a coachman were already comparable to the top experts at a sizable stable.

The label of ‘top expert’ might seem grand, but it speaks volumes when you consider those who have only driven carriages for tens of years or even a lifetime (albeit with the extra occupations of banditry, murder, kidnapping, and rape).

Just how amazing is it that she can hold her own with such people?

Of course, being a skilled warrior, or an intermediary level martial artist in this case, contributed significantly, but considering that, hmm.

Was Young Lady Seomun’s talent really in driving a carriage?

What a pity to be born in the wrong era and not shine, she thought.

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