Chapter 341

It really does sound like quite the enticing tale.

Of course, aside from an unplanned maternity leave.

It’s just like they’re pretending to listen while preparing to smack me from behind.

Should I call this a beauty trap?

But calling it that doesn’t quite fit since Qing hasn’t done anything.

He wouldn’t propose family planning all by himself, would he?

At least I know this guy has never been in a relationship.

Dou Sam swore to uphold his loyalty, and honestly, he meant it.

But Qing doesn’t believe him.

He’s grinding his teeth in frustration, ready to chew through his own boss, and to add insult to injury, he’s itching to show the Green Forest bandits a taste too.

Didn’t he say just that?

And here he is, suggesting that if I bear his child, he’ll hide it away and let it escape?

A guy who can’t even keep his word to his own leader, why would he keep it with me?

Well, why not take the easy way instead of going back?

If I really wanted to run away right now, I could.

As long as I hit the jungle using Nengpa Mibo swiftly, I could just hide in there, because once I’m in, I can escape anytime, just like when I came out to burn this hideout.

But if I keep dodging just because it’s tough now, I’m only postponing what I have to face later.

Who knows how far that anger might reach?

Therefore, since I’ve already made a sworn enemy, I might as well get it over with.

Just like I pulled those mind parasites out during the last Martial Cult incident, I have to at least take down those two from the Realm of Transformation, which is why I’m causing this fuss.

Realm of Transformation? To be honest, they’re quick—quicker than I expected.

But Qing can’t be compared to before.

So, if it comes down to one-on-one, it’s not like I’m lacking in confidence.

But they say they’re lined up with elite warriors.

And some other Realm of Transformation members, plus the Great Chief is right around here.

Even the Supreme Martial Artist would find that a bit unfair.

Two from the Realm of Transformation against one Supreme Martial Artist? That’s just cruel.

Let’s take it easy.

If it doesn’t seem right, I’ll just stab and dash.

“……But what if it’s a girl?”

That’s practically giving half-permission.

Dou Sam grinned.

“I said boy, didn’t I? Isn’t it only right to keep trying until it’s a boy?”

“What if it’s just girls?”

“Boy.”

“Come on, this is rather irresponsible, isn’t it? If I don’t have a boy by three tries, it should be null and void, right?”

“Boy.”

“The gender of the child is ultimately the father’s responsibility, you know? Chromosomes? Something like that. Anyway, the woman has just one role, and since my foundation remains the same, whether it’s a daughter or a son, it’s all your responsibility—”

“Boy.”

“What, is it a neutral country or something? Fine, let it be a neutral territory. So, I suppose this isn’t about casually making a baby, right?”

“Why would that be? We should first hide in a safe place. But.”

Dou Sam said this and pulled out a dark-colored medicinal pill from his pocket.

Wow. Poison! Yeah, poison is a great tool.

Inside, Qing almost cheered while feigning shock on the outside.

If it were a rope to tie up my limbs, I’d just let it happen, and if it were chains, I’d think of breaking one part and escaping.

But poison, now that’s a different story.

“Isn’t that poison? Wow, that’s such an old-school method. So, if you want the antidote, you better have a baby?”

“It’s a mountain poison that’s not too harmful to the body, so you don’t have to worry too much. I need to be prepared for this much. It won’t be a problem even if the baby is inside.”

Mountain poison is a mysterious substance that disperses inner strength while it takes effect.

To begin with, the inner strength itself is some unknown energy of the universe, so it wouldn’t be strange if there’s a drug that drains the body’s inner strength.

However, despite its performance, it’s hard to see the effects.

Once your inner strength starts to scatter, you’ll realize you’re poisoned by mountain poison immediately, and you either stop breathing or toss away whatever you were drinking.

The opponent realizes before their inner strength is emptied, so unless you confine them in a blocked room and smoke them out, or force them to ingest it, there’s no other way.

Qing had tasted it a few times already.

Of course, it didn’t work well for him.

“Lady, you’re really committed. Give it to me.”

“How can I trust you? Open your mouth. I’ll feed it to you myself. Alright. Ah.”

Ugh, he’s really going all out.

Feeling a chill run down his spine, Qing had no choice but to open his mouth.

Then a bitter taste slipped onto his tongue.

As soon as Qing tried to close his mouth, a strong force held his jaw tightly.

“Nope. I need to see you swallow it all.”

Dou Sam peered into Qing’s mouth.

The mountain poison pill was slowly melting away.

With no choice, Qing’s tongue moved, and he gulped down the pooled saliva.

This was truly a sight to behold.

Dou Sam chuckled and placed another mountain pill on Qing’s tongue.

“Ugh.”

“You think one will be enough for a Supreme?”

So he swallowed again.

And then another went down.

Qing’s forehead bulged with veins.

This guy, why not just stuff it all in one go instead of one by one? Is he enjoying the view of someone else’s mouth?

After being forced to consume five mountain pills, his jaw finally regained freedom.

“Lady, that was disgusting. Do you happen to have any alcohol? I think I’ve seen you carrying some.”

“Carrying alcohol? Ha. No matter how many times I tell them not to fill water bottles with it, they just don’t listen.”

Hmm. Qing remembered when he was a rookie worker in construction back in the day.

Mr. Kim sipping soju from a water bottle, and another Mr. Kim shamelessly drinking soju from a small recovery bottle.

And yet another Mr. Kim sneaking drinks from an actual soju bottle.

It seems like no matter where you go, you can’t stop these drinkers.

Dou Sam was no different.

“Alright. Be careful, it’s strong.”

Qing was astonished and replied.

“Didn’t you just mention the water bottle and alcohol?”

“I’m a master, you see. What problem could a master have with a bit of alcohol?”

“Hmm.”

Carefully, Qing held the water pouch and tilted it, avoiding direct contact.

Rather than worrying about indirect drinking, it’s just dirty.

The fiery strong liquor washes over the tongue with a taste even more bitter than the bitterness itself.

“Wow, a master really knows how to drink well. While others are stuck with the cheap stuff, you get the real deal.”

Dou Sam smiled at that sight.

This lady is perfect from head to toe; there’s nothing about her that displeases me.

“Exactly, I’m a master.”

Thus, Dou Sam’s method of getting Qing to cooperate was quite simple.

Qing wasn’t dressed as a bandit, but she was wearing multiple layers of clothes tightly tied at the chest, which made her appear taller and physically larger.

Then Dou Sam handed her a fur hat to cover her face.

Now there emerged a rather unpleasant figure, with notably beautiful eyes that stood out way too much.

“Great Lord, what’s that?”

“This? A candidate for the new Heavenly Fury.”

“Are you telling me Heavenly Fury lost to this person?”

“Pretty audacious, huh? He challenged us right after wanting to join the Yangsan Park Corps. Hey, this guy is in twentieth place, called Cheon-sok. Aren’t you going to greet your future brother?”

Dou Sam said with a grin on his face.

To Qing, this was just childish and ridiculous.

Do you think I can’t do it if you ask me?

Qing deeply bowed and rasped out.

“Ah, brother, how do you do? I, Soja, express my sincere greetings to Heavenly Fury. Cough, my throat isn’t in good shape, but seeing you truly fills my heart with pride, cough, cough, cough, not even this cold can keep me from expressing my respect for you. May I ask when I can treat you properly?”

That Cheon-sok kid chuckled.

“Hehe, this kid is something, huh? I approve. If you can catch Heavenly Fury, you’re more than qualified, personally, I like this cocky little one way better than that annoying dude.”

“Ooh, brother, such words are a great honor for me, in this life and the next!”

“Alright. Let’s meet up later.”

Dou Sam’s expression turned curious.

What’s this? Is this right?

Is the Divine Maiden Sect’s hierarchy extremely strict?

The way he talks doesn’t seem to imply he’s a newbie in any sense?

“I’ll take this newbie to the Yangsan Park Corps to size him up, so tell the Great Chief if he comes looking that I’ll be right there.”

“Yes, brother.”

So, Qing followed Dou Sam, hustling along.

—-

Yangsan Park Corps is the elite combat unit of the Green Forest.

And any highest-ranking elite division gets proper respect from any faction, so the Green Forest has also set up a camp with the Yangsan Park sign in a hidden valley at the base of Mount Cheonja.

Thus, Qing followed Dou Sam along the way.

Despite panting hard from acting, he brushed through the beastly paths without a notice.

“Ugh, slow down, please! I can’t use my inner strength! Don’t you think you should help me out? Like carry me or something?”

“What if someone sees us and gets suspicious? I’m not that kind-hearted of a leader to be carrying newbies around.”

Ugh, I missed my chance at that.

If he had, I could’ve cracked his head easily.

After figuring out how long they had trekked through the mountainous trails, Qing’s earlier dramatic immersion in his façade hit full steam since he knew there’s no inner strength.

I don’t have any inner strength, I can’t use it.

And with no inner strength, I’m weak…

So, lady, I’m struggling here. Ugh, ugh, and so forth.

Finally, after crossing the agonizing mountain trail, Qing arrived at the Yangsan Park.

Wow, I can’t believe I nearly passed right by this place.

It’s only a ten-minute walk from where I first set fire, but being in a valley, naturally, I couldn’t find it.

As Qing passed through the Yangsan Park behind Dou Sam, he pricked his ears up, trying to sense if anyone was around. Hmm. No signs of life at all?

Yet, it’s strange. How did this guy come out of nowhere without arousing my senses?

Qing, unable to keep his curiosity at bay, decided to ask.

“Hey. I seriously consider myself sensitive to my surroundings—did you learn some kind of stealth technique?”

“I picked up some tricks along the way, sure.”

“Oh. Like heavenly skills or something?”

“You could call them that.”

“What exactly?”

“In the Martial World, they say you should keep three parts of your skill hidden. If you become too interested in others’ martial arts, you could lose your life.”

That was a suggestion to keep my nose out of it.

Well, this guy is a tough nut to crack.

Usually, these kinds of people would brag all day if you gave them an inch.

So Dou Sam led Qing into a secluded warehouse, opened a steel door leading underground.

As Qing followed him down, an unbearable stench hit him, ugh, what is that?

“Ugh, the smell!”

“I’m sorry about that. But this is the only spot with soundproofing.”

“Huh? Soundproof? This place is soundproof?”

“What if you change your mind midway and scream? It’d be trouble for both of us. Now, lean against that.”

Dou Sam tapped something next to him.

It resembled a springboard from school days, but instead of clouds, there were two shackles.

On the opposite side, there was a steel frame clearly designed to restrain limbs.

Qing frowned at this.

What on earth do these bandits think they are, making exclusive restraints for women, wow, just wow.

And now that I see it, they even put a pricey mirror in front of the restraints, as if they’re intent on gawking at a woman’s face while they work.

This is not right.

That would leave no room for covert actions.

Qing twisted her face in discontent.

Let’s try talking it out first.

“So, you’re really going to tie someone up like a beast for this task? I mean, this is clearly designed for that, isn’t it?”

“Well, when it’s just men around, shouldn’t we at least have some outlet for our desires? I’ve heard that if a woman resists seriously, it’s not easy to subdue her. Of course, you can just knock her silly to make her beg, but then she dies too quickly. Oh, and just so you know, I’ve only heard of this; I’ve never experienced it myself. I don’t indulge in women.”

He’s not even shy about it.

Qing was baffled.

But being baffled wasn’t the only thing on her mind.

Getting tied up here could really land her in a maternity leave she didn’t ask for.

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