Chapter 344

Ajan Deok’s expression twisted in anger.

“You foolish brat!”

“Why don’t you just let the whole world know that your head is truly that thick!?”

Sure enough, the bandits began to visibly stir, glancing at each other and throwing out comments.

“Did the Great Lord really fall? What can we do to defeat a woman who beat a Supreme Martial Artist?” The whispers of anxiety spread among them.

Qing poured fuel on the fire.

“I won fair and square in a one-on-one match! But surprisingly! Suddenly, she started groveling, begging for her life, saying she would do anything! Even offering to give her own neck to the Great Chief if I spared her! What a pathetic excuse for a man!”

“Don’t lie! There’s no way my brother would do that!”

“At first, she was all flustered and couldn’t even use her Qi after taking a few hits, you know? From what I see, she’s just out of practice. Always picking on weak commoners, she’s just a washed-up loser now. A complete fool!”

“Don’t insult my brother! He’s not that kind of person!”

“Oh really? How would you explain losing to a Supreme Martial Artist then?”

“Y-you’re just saying that because she ambushed him…!”

“The ambush was by Dou Sam! But I managed to escape that crisis and even landed a hit. Are you perhaps from the Yangsan Park Corps? You must know that Dou Sam has some exceptional stealth skills.”

“T-that’s…!”

It may seem obvious, but history is written by the victors. When there’s nothing to challenge their narrative, only the winner’s account becomes the undeniable truth.

Considering that fact, it’s not so strange for a bandit to beg for their life. No matter how skilled a Supreme Martial Artist is, if they want to live, they have to beg— doesn’t it lose face to beg when you’re a Supreme Martial Artist? You might as well die, right?

“Hey, is there a Chief here? Come out, you coward! Let’s fight like men! That Supreme Martial Artist is nothing special!”

One-on-one, that’s worth a shot. And if things go south, just run, right?

After all, it was a fight between a Supreme Martial Artist and a Supreme Martial Artist. No one would really blame someone for running away then. Even if you flee while battling a major figure like the chief of the Green Forest, it wouldn’t be an issue.

If you challenge someone way above your level and get freaked out, that’s just embarrassing—plenty of people wouldn’t have a problem with that.

On the flip side, it means the Supreme Martial Artist has no urgent reason to fight. Winning is just a given.

Lose, and you’re the world’s biggest fool.

Even if you miss, you’d still be a fool. How could a legendary Supreme Martial Artist not be able to catch one measly Supreme Martial Artist?

Even winning but getting hurt still makes you a fool.

What kind of Supreme Martial Artist gets injured after one-on-one combat?

But Ajan Deok’s heart sank.

What is this brat relying on to start making demands for a Supreme Martial Artist? Could she be hiding her true strength?

But would it even make sense for a twenty-year-old girl to possess more than that?

Maybe she’s actually confident.

They say one life-and-death match is better than a thousand fights.

When was the last time Dou Sam or the Great Chief had a life-and-death match?

It wouldn’t be strange if they were rusty after so long without a fight against a worthy opponent.

“Brother San-ye, we have to fetch the Chief-”

Just then, before Ajan Deok could finish warning, a voice rang out, filled with burning hatred, chilling his spine.

“Seomun Qing!!!”

But it was already too late.

Even before Ajan Deok’s objections could finish, a shout laden with seething hatred cut through the air, dropping like a weight into everyone’s gut.

As silence fell, everyone turned to look, witnessing the sharp glare of the cold eyes blazing nearby.

The murderous intent was so palpable it sent shivers down their spines.

The bandits from the Green Forest swallowed nervously, avoiding her gaze, as if a deadly substance had just been mentioned.

A pair of eyes sparking with fury drew closer.

Wow, what is that? So cool.

Does a Supreme Martial Artist’s glare really spit fire?

How sad if I have to fight one of them and lose. So cool though.

Qing envied the fierce glare, not realizing it resembled what she displayed daily—hers were just a sad reflection of the horrifying starry light that had an instinctive ability to invoke fear.

However, mirrors were a rare sight in the primitive, uncivilized world of the Central Plain, and even if they existed, who would have time to check their reflection in the middle of a fight?

That concluded her thoughts.

So, she boldly shouted, “Hey! Can you hear me!? You’re the Great Chief, right!? Come here and let’s really have a go!”

“Fine! Brothers of the Green Forest, listen up! Capture that girl alive!”

And then, it happened.

Wham!! A loud noise as a bandit went flying out of sight.

“Didn’t you see me throw a rock? Feel free to come at me. I’ll throw rocks at whoever comes first. Let’s see how many of you die crossing this river. I’ve said it, whoever comes first is the target. There’s plenty of rocks laying around.”

The bandits hesitated.

They had seen her deadly rock throwing in action.

How many stones would fly while attempting to cross this twenty-foot river?

And she says it’s first-come-first-served.

So, they dared not step forward, exchanging nervous glances instead.

If a historian had been witnessing this scene, they would have been utterly transfixed.

A Great Hero standing firm against countless bandits is certainly deserving of that title.

Killing enemies with a single stone, like celestial punishment from the skies; forget lightning—let’s call it a falling meteor. Same rock, just different terminology.

The Great Hero hurling meteors! The Meteor Throwing Great Hero!

In the early days of humanity, utilizing terrain to one’s advantage has been a long-standing strategy.

Throughout history, and even into the future, it’s considered one of the top defensive strategies.

The Green Forest bandits weren’t moving an inch.

The solution by Wang Cheol-gun was simple.

With a thud, stepping on his opponent’s foot, Wang Cheol-gun smashed his fist into an unsuspecting bandit’s face.

“Do you dare defy me? I told you to capture her! Now!”

Then, wham! Bang!

Two more bandits fell, bloodied and rolling out of the fray.

They were hit by stones like they were struck by a carriage, their bodies soaring into the air, adding auditory terror to the visual inescapability of defeat.

The bandits of the Green Forest recoiled once more.

And Wang Cheol-gun swung again.

Qing felt elated inside.

“Wow, this foolish bandit is really serving it up on a platter?”

What is this? Trying to help me out?

If I could just take them down here and there, that would be great, but the Supreme Martial Artist nearby is scarier than the one far away.

Eventually, they would all charge at once.

And if they do?

I can just run!

So, Qing, throwing stones, took out seven, and Wang Cheol-gun sliced down three, before the shouted command of “Let’s go!” rose up, signaling their charge.

Qing bolted away.

Wang Cheol-gun chased after the image of his enemy across the river, but how could he find Qing in the pitch-black forest?

“Ugh! Seomun Qing! Seomun Chae-ung!!!”

Only the furious shouts echoed into the night sky.

“Ahh! Ugh! Ugh!!!”

Sounds of anger, tossing about pots and knocking over a campfire, but if that was going to calm their anger, they wouldn’t have come this far at all.

The Great Chief was in such a state of uncontrolled rage that he didn’t know what to do with his limbs.

And as time passed, a few who could wield martial arts started making it across the river.

No one could blame them for being too slow.

It’s no easy task for any skilled martial artist to leap across a river that spans fifteen feet.

Without martial arts, no matter how agile or muscular a person is, crossing more than three feet at once is impossible.

Even with mastered martial arts, jumping over seven feet is challenging, and when one reaches that level, the skill of running on water makes crossing it all at once unnecessary.

Regardless, soon after, various bandits barely made it across the freezing, pitch-black water on that winter’s night.

However, guess what? Qing was already gone.

“Ugh!!!”

Only Wang Cheol-gun’s cries of rage filled the air.

Hearing that, the bandits of the Green Forest felt the surge of anger, too.

What the hell is happening because of that damn girl?

But the anger wasn’t directed solely at Qing.

But damn it, why are we suffering because of this?

Ignoring the Supreme Martial Artist’s challenge to one-on-one combat and shoving us into icy water in the dead of night, did they really think we’d just stand here waiting?

Even if they didn’t run, it’d be logical.

How could we possibly capture the one who took down the Lord of the Yangsan Park?

It’s not like the order was to kill her, but to capture her, huh? Do they think she’ll just come willingly?

Damn, I’m about done being a bandit.

Loyalty and dedication plummeted.

By dawn, no doubt a number of those who fled would be missing.

Probably because before the night ended, Qing would strike again.

She crossed the ravine, but found herself unable to do anything.

A night search was futile, only causing greater loss.

Even staying idly meant no tasks were readily available, and the drenched bandits began to feel the chill gnawing at their bodies.

So, it was time to go back.

“She’ll surely appear again. At dawn, let’s hide our best men behind the riverbank. And you, be ready to ambush the Chief. She will undoubtedly show up, and we’ll capture her then.”

“This is the last time. My patience is wearing thin. Ajan Deok.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Ajan Deok bowed deeply, seeking forgiveness.

Though in truth, he felt no remorse.

They returned to camp, kindling a large fire to dry their wet clothes and sharing some hot water and warmed alcohol to warm their chilled bodies, causing quite a bit of commotion.

Just as they finally began to settle in and lay down to rest late into the night…

Knock, knock, knock, knock!!!

“You cowardly bastards! You’re just going to play in the water while leaving me out! I love to play in the water too! I wanted to splash around!”

Qing reignited the fire and began banging on a twisted, broken pot, causing a ruckus.

The bandits were in a state of exhaustion, drifting into a deep sleep.

But it didn’t take long before they jolted awake.

They felt as if they were about to die from fatigue.

Yet, how could they ignore her?

So they gathered by the riverside once more.

Qing was wide awake, jubilantly shouting.

“Wang Cheol-gun! Come out! Let’s have a one-on-one, huh!? Are you too scared to fight me, a single Supreme Martial Artist? Come on, you coward! You damn coward! If you want revenge, don’t hesitate! You can lick your wounds as much as you want, you sorry little brat! You’re free to do as you please!”

“You, you brat! How dare you!”

This time, it was the furious exclamation of the Great Chief, his body trembling with rage so intense that he could barely control his limbs. Every word felt like a dagger to his heart—

The moment he opened his mouth, it was sheer, unfiltered fury!

“My child is dead. If you touch my precious babies, I swear you’ll suffer like hell!”

His voice was on the verge of exploding.

“Do you think you understand the anger of a father who has lost his child? I couldn’t even dare to touch your little finger. It doesn’t matter if the world points fingers at me. Any cowardly means will do. I will ensure you die a most terrible death, or at the very least, live a life so dreadful it’s beyond comprehension.”

Hearing this, even the bandits nearby felt a chill run down their spines at the cruel intent dripping from his words.

Yet, it didn’t faze Qing.

“Oh, deepen your voice! Does that make you sound cooler? Not at all! And if you’re curious, ask nicely! Are you really that clueless? That pathetic little brat doesn’t understand a father’s heart! And there you are, esteemed Great Hero—do you know? If you do, this lowly bandit is eager for your wisdom!”

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