Chapter 286

Out of nowhere, a surprise attack.

What do you mean surprise? It’s a one-hit kill for Chae-joo.

It’s so brutal it’s making spectators dizzy.

Suddenly, the silence shattered, replaced by the sound of heavy rain, broken only by someone’s shout.

“Damn it! Young Master!”

Look at that? The first thing on their mind is the Young Master.

Qing’s head whipped around.

The look in his eyes while staring at the Young Master was downright sinister.

The guy who shouted realized his mistake.

When you’re guarding someone, the first rule is to vanish quietly at the first sign of danger, and only then take care of the threat.

But it was just a bunch of bandits they were dealing with after all.

No matter their skill or experience, a bandit knows how to steal but has no clue how to protect.

“Wait! I’m Hekpung Samjeolbu, Harokju.”

“I didn’t ask!”

Qing’s eyes shot back like arrows.

The demonic technique of Hell’s Piercing confronted with the blade of a hand axe, narrowly escaping a hit to the waist.

To block the intense charge of Hell’s Piercing, at least a counter-Qi was necessary. Harokju had that.

Boom! A loud clash echoed as weapons collided.

Qing yelled.

“No way, even dogs and cows are using Sword Aura!”

“Hey! Hold on!”

“Now you want to solve this with words?!”

Qing’s foot shot out again, the exhilarating feeling of shattering bones underfoot was truly satisfying.

But Harokju already saw it coming.

He awkwardly spread his legs wide, narrowly dodging Qing’s kick.

But Qing wouldn’t give up.

“Already!”

Qing jumped up with his knee raised, aiming for the chin. Harokju rolled backward to evade the attack targeting his jaw.

“Too late!”

With that, Qing straightened his legs, creating an astonishing sight as his feet stood perfectly straight on the ground. For a moment, Qing soared high into the sky, like a meteor crashing down to the earth.

Harokju gasped and dove away, completely disregarding his pride.

Boom!!

Dark demon energy swirled around the ground, creating a whirlwind before vanishing around Qing.

A star of the Heavenly Demon’s abode appeared.

With every step forward, the wind howled.

“Ugh.”

Harokju groaned, sprawled on the ground.

He barely escaped being stomped on, but with Hell’s Piercing encroaching, he was half-exposed.

But there was no time to feel pain.

The reason humans have two legs is so they can take turns moving forward.

“Nice roll!”

Qing violently grabbed his knees.

It seemed a silly move, but he had learned the hard way that the force behind it was no joke.

Once again, bam.

Harokju, rolling desperately, quickly got back up.

“Wait! Stop! The Young Master’s…”

“Not interested!”

Qing had completely tuned him out.

After all, he was planning to kill the guy, so who cares whose Young Master he is?

And what would knowing change?

Is anyone’s daughter that precious?

Anyway, who cares if they’re a princess with magical powers?

Qing unleashed the dagger like a storm.

The strikes came one after another, appearing awkward to block but didn’t give oncoming attacks any chance to counter; it was a bizarre technique.

“Wow, what’s this? You’re pretty good at fighting, old man. What the heck are you doing as a bandit? Oh! Is it because you were born a little shit? Can’t even hold a candle to your lineage?”

“Damn it! What are you doing!? Where’s the Young Master’s protection?”

“Shut it!”

Qing’s voice was sharp as his right hand smoothly extended, and *bam!* the Supreme Divine Skill pierced the Young Master’s calf.

Blood spurted as the back of the shinbone turned white.

“AAAH!”

The Young Master slumped to the ground, while some bandits rushed to his side, others charged at Qing.

Ah. Wait. Where’s Young Lady Seoliri?

Desperately searching for her, Qing caught a glimpse of her silver hair speeding away outside.

Wow. She didn’t even look back and just bolted.

No, that’s actually better.

If she hesitated to help and ended up getting caught, she’d just be a liability. And getting hit in a chaotic fight is just sad.

Ugh! Qing roared, throwing the dagger with a rough inhale.

With a menacing spin, it flew, hitting the bandit supporting the Young Master squarely in the back, causing him to tumble.

Thanks to that, the bandit’s corpse fell, taking the Young Master down with it.

Then, a fierce gale surrounded them.

With the Awakening Skill, Qing could sense the movements around him without even looking.

Twisting away from the attack from behind, Qing caught the ambusher’s wrist, snapping it as easily as a twig.

AAAH, a new weapon screamed in pain.

Qing seized the ambusher’s neck and pants, swinging him around as the bandits hesitated, not daring to strike.

He tossed the ambusher carelessly aside, and the muscular thug crashed into his comrades.

And finally, the Moonlight Sword!

With the sword in hand, Qing danced among the bandits like a fish in water.

One swing would take a head, another would chop an arm or leg, and if by chance someone didn’t get cut in one go, he might want to check if his sword aura was working right.

Just a moment of fun, and then he noticed a thief trying to sneak away with the Young Master.

BANG! With a single strike from the Divine Body, blood shot out of the thief’s mouth as he collapsed.

The thieving scoundrel was right beside the now rolling Young Master.

His shinbone exposed and legs trembling, was he hit somewhere? AAAAAH, his cries echoed.

“Wait! Stop! That person is Great Chief’s…”

“Lady! Too much info! I’m not interested!”

While trying to fend off Harokju’s malicious attempts to reveal the Young Master’s identity, Qing was too busy, feeling like he needed three bodies to manage everything.

Of course, having three bodies would mean less fun, so he didn’t exactly wish for it.

Harokju was losing his mind.

He should have left long ago.

But the temptation of two beautiful women coming into the camp kept him stuck, and that was his downfall.

With the rain falling, making him think of the ladies, he couldn’t help but remain.

He was feeling a bit too excited, it couldn’t be helped.

But where the heck did this master come from, and how come there’s such a difference in skill?

The answer lies in human strength itself.

If two people can wield the same sword aura, the one who is faster, stronger, and more precise must have the upper hand.

In that sense, Qing could already be called the strongest among the supreme masters.

Overwhelming strength brings with it speed, or rather, overwhelming speed along with strength.

The way people recognize it back in Qing’s hometown, that being strong means a lack of agility and accuracy doesn’t fit here.

Harokju ground his teeth.

The virtue of banditry is that if things go south, you run away without a second thought, but in Harokju’s case, there was no retreat.

Either he dies here or fails to protect the Young Master, either way ends in death—unless he begged for a quick death, he’d suffer a long, painful experience.

“Damn it! Kill me! Everyone charge! You want to die by my hands!”

Harokju shouted, charging in with his deep blue sword aura as the bandits all rushed at Qing.

Everywhere daggers and hand axes came flying.

Qing’s eyes gleamed, and he took a step, then another, crouching low while pulling his sword back tightly.

Thwack! Bam! Pow! Pain erupted throughout his back, shoulder, and sides as if searing hot flames were exploding in his brain.

But he held on!

With his tough muscles and bones, and especially the self-defense techniques he picked up at the Divine Maiden Sect, he could easily weather their crude attacks.

And thus, his sword lunged.

Straight from Qing’s hand, piercing Harokju’s heart and beyond.

“Cough.”

Qing’s lips curled in a sadistic grin.

The Moonlight Sword twisted and turned in a full circle, then spun backward again.

Thick, red blood flowed from Harokju’s mouth. A tortured expression followed.

Seeing the anguish on Harokju’s face as he slowly succumbed brought a spring-like joy to Qing’s heart.

But, hmm. Something felt off.

It’s definitely enjoyable, but not as much as expected.

There should be some primal thirst bubbling from within seeing so much bone and blood split.

As a result, he should feel compelled to act more gruesomely.

This time, however, it was just a bit of fun?

Of course, it was enjoyable.

Well, as long as it’s fun, I guess.

Food needs to taste good, and bloodshed should be amusing.

At this moment, Qing’s Dantian resonated with the true energies of Dao and Buddha, gathering together to lift the Awakening Energy, spinning in celebration.

The lonely star of Heaven’s Kill looked down on the scene with a benevolent smile.

And Pachen Magi was laughing too.

While the cheerful Awakening Energy soared joyfully in the air, it suddenly dove down and landed heavily on Pachen Magi, knocking him down.

Seoliri turned her back to Qing as soon as the fight began.

However, this wasn’t an act of fleeing, escaping, or what you’d call a tactical retreat.

She was simply following the basic war principles: seeking a favorable battlefield.

The Ice Skill was, in many ways, poorly evaluated.

On hot days, it just doesn’t pack much punch.

And on cold days, it also loses effectiveness.

Because in the cold, people prepare against it.

Donning thick undergarments, then thin clothes, topped with padded outerwear—a complete armor.

Ice Skill owners often claim their abilities are stronger in the summer.

At least in summer, you can directly strike through thin clothing against bare skin.

In fact, they find their abilities falter more in winter.

There have been times when Ice Skill users might go berserk, and that’s during the rain.

Specifically, when enemies are soaking wet.

In winter, even if it rains, thick clothes seldom get soaked all the way through.

But in the summer downpour, unleashed ice attacks freeze on contact, starting with severe frostbite, showcasing their true power.

So, the bandits thought they were chasing a fleeing beauty, but when she found her footing outside the roof and began spinning, while the sounds of ice clashing filled the air, they thought to themselves.

Ah, isn’t this a bit too much?

But whether it was too much or not, Seoliri’s body spun towards the enemy.

As bandits rushed forward swinging axes, Seoliri, now firmly planted, easily evaded them.

She stretched out her right arm, causing the swirling Ice Dragon to open its jaws wide, biting down on her forearm!

“AAAH!!! What?”

The bandit screamed in utter confusion.

It felt like a bite, but the pain was absent, leaving only a cool and oddly warm sensation lingering on his forearm.

However, before he could process anything, Seoliri’s palm struck down on his forearm with great force—the Icebreaker of the Northern Sea Palace.

Half of his forearm froze solid before cracking like glass, sending red shards flying, exposing white bone beneath.

“AAAH!!! UGH.”

The bandit screamed in pain this time.

But it didn’t last long; a blade lodged in his throat would render him unable to scream any further.

A clear, long, ice sword penetrated the bandit’s nape, protruding out and retracting smoothly.

A thin ice blade, no thicker than a finger, had emerged from nowhere, now firmly grasped in Seoliri’s hand.

The Ice Dragon reappeared, naturally coiling around the sword blade.

The Northern Sea’s Divine Skill, Ice Emperor’s Spirit, and Ice Spirit’s Sword.

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