Chapter 328

청 is basically a walking disaster waiting to happen.

First off, her origins make it a given; in the land where 청 grew up, worrying about survival was basically nonexistent—well, except for a few exceptions that could probably be counted on one hand.

When it comes to the gap between how to eat and how not to die, it’s something 청’s people probably don’t even grasp.

But not just that, she’s toughened up after a year in the martial arts world. After all, she survived eating trash, so what could possibly be worse, right?

Plus, with her light-footedness and super-speed, she figures, “If things get hairy, I can just run away,” so it’s not like danger is ever a thought she entertains.

This carefree attitude is why she boldly steps onto secluded, rough mountain paths without a care in the world during her solo travels.

You see, people don’t usually stick to well-kept roads for no reason.

Mountains come with their own set of hazards.

First off, the creatures living there.

If you’re a Supreme Martial Artist, you’re not worried about wild beasts. Even the fiercest predator, when she draws out her Qi and cuts through, would just end up as a questionable meal—not exactly gourmet, if you catch my drift.

Wild game can smell up a storm and be crawling with parasites or diseases. Creepy crawlies like snakes or venomous critters? Now that’s a different story.

If one sneaks into your camp while you’re napping and takes a bite, that could lead to a tricky situation out in the middle of nowhere.

But not for 청; she’s got immunity!

Then there’s the lack of villages, too.

On properly maintained roads, you’ll find small towns catering to outsiders, but when you’re in the dense mountains, it’s rare to find a settlement, as it’s questionable if you’re even on a legit road at all.

This practically means you can’t stock up on food or essentials. Not to mention it raises the stakes for human dignity.

But 청? She wouldn’t think twice before munching on whatever’s lying around, considering her dignity was thrown out the window in her first year.

Getting lost? No biggie!

She’s the type to snack on dirt while sprawled out on the ground.

If you tossed a ball at her, she’d probably manage just fine even on a deserted island.

When you look at it closely, 청 being so thick-skinned about danger does have its own twisted logic.

She didn’t set out to be solo at first.

She took off from the Divine Maiden Summit for a little adventure, but without 최리옹 or 의매 around, well, what’s a girl to do?

Seems like everyone else is off finding their own lives while she’s trying to drag them away from their business.

Even Grandpa and 의매 are living their own lives, meeting up, hanging out, then parting ways—it’s not like being sisters means you stick together for everything.

So 청 gave it all up and set off on her own.

With a face-covering scarf on.

“Oh wow, the face scarf is back!”

Guys aren’t as blatant as gals in expressing interest, but it’s still not the chillest to be stuck in a place where familiar faces keep showing up like a bad penny.

After hearing chatter about her mysterious background, even the unofficial officers like 서문수린 said it was fine to wear it like this—just while she’s introduced as Disciple of Divine Maiden Sect, 서문청.

Thus, freed from the leering eyes of men and the occasional bold attempts at courting, 청 started heading southwest, passing 은시현.

Now, she at least knew the basics about the geography of Central Plains.

If she decided to take a shortcut and head toward 중경, she’d find herself rock climbing instead of trekking through the mountains to get to the highlands of 귀주성.

So, she aimed for the south, specifically the mountain town of 용산현.

When there are no nearby cities, merchants get a little too clever with their prices, banking on the fact that you’ve got nowhere else to go.

용산현 was no exception. Though she haggled hard, they all colluded to raise the prices, leaving her no choice.

Just because it’s called the 용산, does that mean they gotta charge her an arm and a leg?

They weren’t particularly friendly either. What a load of nonsense!

The merchants spouted a bunch of excuses, saying, “The nearest town’s 상식현 or 장가계, but the roads are too rough for a carriage,” meaning only more trouble for the price tags.

Alternatively, she could have goods sent from 은서현 or 일수현, but that meant a long trip—easily more than half a month to go back and forth. Naturally, prices would soar.

Listening to merchant talk was like letting one ear catch it while the other promptly let it all slip away, but one word caught her attention: 장가계!

“Hang on, where’s 장가계…” she thought to herself.

She realized she’d never been there, so how about checking out what the big deal was that made it so famous amongst the middle-aged crowd?

She was basically walking straight into a tiger’s den without even knowing it.

Given that the martial artists from famous families usually brushed off the Green Forest, 서문수린 didn’t warn her against it either.

Besides, she hadn’t even joked about the Green Forest out of concern that her acquaintances could get dragged in, so there was no way she’d heard any stories about the infamous exploits.

After crossing a few more mountain ridges, she exclaimed, “Whoa!”

This is why everyone keeps raving about 장가계!

Anyone looking on would probably think there’s this odd girl shouting in excitement over at 천자산.

To think, if she were back home, she’d be at 남산 yelling, “Wow, look at 중구! What a great mountain!” kind of vibe—that really helps you get the feeling.

The scenery of 장가계 is downright magical.

Hundreds of towering rock formations supporting the sky, and from the cliff’s edge, the view is so foreign and awe-inspiring, it’s like stepping into a wonderland.

As someone from that land, she thought it looked like she’d just landed on an alien planet from some movie.

But being from the Central Plains didn’t make her feelings any different, as she gazed upon the scenery, realizing this wasn’t her world, but rather a heavenly realm.

Thus, the place known as the blessed paradise of the immortals was aptly named 장가계.

As 청 drank in the fantastic landscape, she mused, “Hmm. Really saw something great.”

It looks stunning, but do I really need to visit?

From below, it probably just looks like a regular canyon.

No need to climb a bunch more mountains for this!

And just as she was about to continue on her way…

“Hey there! A guest traipsing around without permission? Are you planning to check out this view without paying the admission fee?”

Heads popped up along the path—couldn’t tell if it was a hiking trail or animal tracks, but here they came, lumbering up like they were expecting trouble.

“Free visits are a crime, you know? Right? Or is it unpayable sightseeing? Can we even call it unpayable viewing?”

“Ha-ha, sharp as always!”

One of the big guys in the back strutted, sweet-talking.

These rough-looking guys all had their shirts off. In the Central Plains, though, it’s pretty normal for guys to go shirtless during summer, so she couldn’t exactly judge them purely on that.

But they were all decked out in junky weapons, clearly the rough and tumble bandit type—so obvious.

“Is there an admission fee?”

“Huh? Another face scarf girl? Everyone’s hopping on the face scarf trend nowadays! Not that I’m talking to you, of course. It’s all the rage with the ken-uh-thing and the trending styles, all just nonsense.”

“Ha-ha, but they’re not talking about the signature fashion!”

“That one’s got potential. But to pull off that kind of style, you gotta show your face so we know if it’s a beauty or just some plain jane. And if it’s also considered the ken-uh-style, how will anyone even tell the difference?”

청’s eyes lit up.

Wait—what? The trend is about showing your chest? When did that happen?

Now that she thought about it, it was unfair! Everyone’s flaunting their chests while she was stuck at the Divine Maiden Sect?!

Now it’s early October, and the morning and evenings are getting chilly. By the time she gets to 남녕, everyone will be wearing winter clothes…

“Alright, alright! We’ve got a guest here, and we’re just chatting it up, yeah? Pay your admission fee, will ya?”

“How much?”

“For a viewing, you gotta pay up! How about you take off that face scarf first? Then we’ll see if it’s worthy of a look, and if not, you’ll be paying with your money bag, and as a punishment for unpayable viewing, we’ll take your undergarments to boot.”

So in other words, if she’s ugly, they’d toss her out naked—real nice of them, huh?

Based on their roughness, it looked like she’d had more than a few bad encounters already, meaning she’d likely earned herself a death sentence.

She was initially planning to sneak past, but things just got a little spicier.

Given that a woman with a sword stood at the mountain’s peak, wouldn’t you think they’d exercise a little caution?

Or did they think they could take her?

Either way, if they’re a bunch of these types, she knew a scuffle was inevitable.

So 청 casually lifted her face scarf.

“Oooh…” “Wow…” “F**k…”

Various exclamations erupted at once.

Of course, they were gawking at 청, the top contender for the title of the Most Beautiful in the World, and guys just can’t help it—it’s instinctual.

As she lowered her scarf, she asked, “Does this cover the admission fee?”

“Well, it’s indeed breathtaking. But we still don’t know yet. We need to see you strip first to really make a judgment.”

Had her gut feelings been right?

She knew exactly how this was going to go down.

So she asked with a chuckle, “If I strip, what’s next? You gotta touch to really know, and next, we can go halfway—just a little bit, yeah?”

“Ha-ha, you know your stuff!”

“Well, I enjoy touching and testing new things, but since I don’t have a, uh, tool, can I just poke a little? Huh?”

As she drew her Moonlight Sword, a sinister grin spread across her face.

The bandits flinched.

Of course, she’d lowered her scarf again, her expression not giving away her murderous intent.

It was just that her Moonlight Sword was ridiculously big and beautiful.

The blade stretched over three feet long while its width was as thick as her pinky, so visually, even a strong man couldn’t just scoop it up one-handed.

She’d even ordered it to be as heavy as could be made just for this purpose, and with the hefty weight she’d strapped on, it became this ridiculously intimidating weapon.

For someone like 청, who had gotten lighter with her abilities, it was just the right weight to feel balanced.

That’s when the bandits finally sensed danger creeping in.

육락봉 sits across from the breathtaking sight of the rocky peaks of 장가계, and even so, it was still right at the front door of the Green Forest HQ.

Never would they have imagined a sword would come out in front of their own territory.

Plus, people usually draw their swords for a good reason.

“Hey, uh, 소저? Are you from a clan…?”

“Why ask about the clan? Forget about it. Just call me 서문청, and if the King of Hell asks, just say I’m here to pay a visit.”

“Damn it! 서문청! Great Lord, we need to scram!”

Oh ho, they know me!

I figured that last rat I let slip would bring the Green Forest hunting me down!

“F**k! Why the hell is 서문청 here? Is this an ambush? She came to kill me!”

At this, a great big grin stretched across 청’s face, reaching her ears.

But an ambush is just an ambush; why mention that they’re out to kill her?

Isn’t that just them admitting she’s some precious prize?

“Clear a path! I’m breaking through!”

Then, every one of them rushed forth, trying to save their Great Lord from sight as they barreled into each other.

Honestly, if they wanna run this way, who am I to argue?

I mean, it’s not like I’m going towards a bandit hideout or anything.

But 청 had no clue, just thinking there’s probably a little camp nearby.

She deliberately turned a blind eye to one of them pulling out a whistle.

“Yeah, bring it! Bring all your bandit buddies, I’ll clean up this tourist location like nobody’s business!”