Chapter 350

Aside from that, there’s one suspicious medicine—it smells nice, but I have no idea what it is.

And some kind of crumpled-up paper. Oh, is this the treasure map?

Being half-blind, I can’t even tell if this is a ticket or the treasure map, even when looking closely.

As I tried to transfer the contents to my bag, I realized my not-so-dry bag was damp.

After just putting it all back in, I felt ready to head out again.

Still, I can’t shake this feeling of despair.

But do I really have to go like this…?

Even breathing hurts…

Yet, crying out won’t magically shorten my journey.

And I can’t just stay here in the middle of this treacherous wilderness until I heal.

So somehow, I must go. I have to go.

Qing was about to let out a sigh before realizing, ugh, I can’t even sigh, come on.

As I took a deep breath, my chest swelled, and my ribs screamed, ugh, my outer oblique muscles screamed too, ugh, the inner obliques, ugh, and the transverse abdominis as well, ugh, plus my diaphragm sagging from fluid buildup, ugh. Not to mention the tightness from my lower tendons squeezing my pelvis, and my fractured pelvis also, ugh.

But I can’t just sit down.

Let’s go, I have to go…

Heading south.

The sky was cloudy (it’s just mist at my feet on the Zhangjiajie peaks), but I could make out a faint source of light through the haze, which helped me find my direction.

On my way, I spotted Wang Cheol-gun’s half-burned corpse in a pit made from a hammer drop.

It wasn’t doused in oil, so it was pretty well-preserved on the outside, but my eyes were drawn to the huge two-handed hammer beside it.

Even with my discomfort, it seemed like I could easily use it as a walking stick.

I heard it was much lighter than the Moonlight Sword (the broadsword, tenth model).

It seemed the weight was merely concentrated at the tip, and though it felt like it was just under four jins, that’s still quite hefty.

Of course, it’s unsurprising. There are barely any weapons that weigh five jins in the world.

Even if it weighs a bit less than four, it still feels ridiculously heavy, too heavy to be practical.

Among the Noble Heavy Staffs, this one falls into the “Are you out of your mind for trying to swing that?” category.

Besides, the original Noble Heavy Staff wasn’t even this heavy.

It grew heavier through modifications, evidently.

With my hardly-functioning eyes, I had to look closely to notice this fact.

Oh. So it wasn’t a two-handed hammer.

It was the Noble Heavy Staff.

Between the partially broken hammer head, I noticed spikes of the thorn iron peeking out.

They must have dumped molten metal into a square mold with the thorn iron inside it and turned it into a hammer, but since the bandits weren’t that skilled in metallurgy, the hammer head broke apart.

Suddenly, my heart sank.

Whoa. That was close. I nearly died there…

I must have just had a stroke of luck to have survived this…

They must’ve replaced the hammer head with thorn iron to capture me.

If I had been hit by a flat hammer head, the shock would’ve been evenly dispersed, resulting in a rupture on my side.

What if I had been struck by the Noble Heavy Staff instead?

The sharp spikes would have pierced through my peritoneum, transferring all that shock directly into my organs.

My intestines would have burst and torn, leading to my death.

Right now, I’d probably be haunting some ferryman on the Sanshan River, asking if I really died about three hundred times.

Of course, if it had been the Noble Heavy Staff, I might have desperately dodged it.

That was when Qing deeply reflected on everything.

The experts of the Realm of Transformation weren’t as easy as I thought, and I was a complete fool for thinking I could win.

More valuable than that treasure map or suspicious pills, or the great achievements of killing two from the Realm of Transformation and tackling the bandits would be this moment of reflection.

What should I have done then?

There was no need to burn those bandit hides in such a hurry; I could just have taken my time going back.

While conducting guerilla warfare against the Yang Clan, I could have set fire to one hide at a time to keep them in line if they got too relaxed.

I could’ve prepared for a long game, ready to fight when the situation was more favorable.

Or, sorry to future generations, but during the dry winter season, I could’ve burned the mountain and run away.

Thinking it over, by the time the descendents start a tourism business, the trees will probably be regrown, right?

But this jungle is perpetually damp, as if water runs beneath the ground.

I might have been able to start a fire in the wet primitive forest, but it’s uncertain.

Focused on how to alter my approach, I walked cautiously—which hurt, but at least I had some thoughts to keep my mind off it.

Thus, with deep reflection, I emerged from the Won Valley into a town.

The name of the village located southwest of Zhangjiajie is Won Valley.

In fact, the northern sides of Tianzi Mountain and Tianmen Mountain are called the Yang Valley, while the central and southwest parts are Won Valley, and the east is Zhangjiajie.

It tied to the same name for the officials because these names initially referred to land hidden away by traitors in this perilous wilderness.

The land where the traitorous Yang Clan resides: Yang Valley.

The land where the traitorous Won Clan resides: Won Valley.

And similarly, the land where the traitorous Zhang Clan resides: Zhangjiajie.

Of course, even though they were traitors, this all dates back to olden days before the ancient dynasties flipped over a few times, so they’re not traitors today.

This was the fun fact revealed by Jeomsoi, the sole tavern employee in the lower Won Valley.

She seemed eager to boast about her village after the big guest who cleaned out the rare ingredients.

To be precise, it was her trying to flatter the flawless beauty descended upon this countryside.

However, Jeomsoi couldn’t leave much of an impression, even with her advances.

Anyway, having a tavern is already something to be grateful for.

I spent some coins (firewood is much more expensive in a tiny village) and soaked in a hot bath.

I’m glad I brought the highest-quality Xiangzhao (beauty soap) that unknown young lady left behind.

I pondered if I should bandage the wound where the Tang Family’s healing ointment I applied covered me or leave it be.

If I leave it, it hurts less while still, but moves terribly; if I press it tight, it still hurts, but it’s much easier to move.

But in a village with just one tavern, it’s impossible they’ll also have a horse stable, so I’ll have to walk.

It’s annoying and throbbing, but there’s no other choice.

I tossed some coins to a village woman to wash the contents of my damp, fishy-smelling bag.

Normally I’d do it myself, but sitting down felt impossible right now, so I had to resort to using the lady.

Still, she seemed to enjoy it, as she got to do a few extra pieces washing away some coins.

Both Qing and the lady were happy.

Thus, from being a barbarian, I’ve transformed into a proper sect woman, looking like the true Most Beautiful in the World as I headed south.

With my side still hurting, it wasn’t wise to take a detour to the east.

Thinking of it, it felt like I got only my side injured in my rush.

Now I see why speeding is dangerous.

So southward I went.

I had to trek over mountains to get to Huaihua County on foot.

Still, with my wound tightly bandaged, I felt a bit better.

It’s some kind of cool, tingling pain that creeps up with every breath? Quite bearable actually? Walking feels okay?

As I reached Huaihua, along the banks of the Huaihua River, the flat highway continues all the way to the Guangxi Province border.

So I’ll ride a cart to Tongdu County, the southernmost city of Hunan Province.

Before I knew it, the massive mountain range dividing Hunan and Guangxi loomed ahead, blocking my path.

But at least once I clear this, it flattens back out into the highlands of Guangxi.

Qing’s pace is generally fast.

It’s just my nature, and with my superhuman physical abilities on top of that, anyone unfamiliar with martial arts would find it hard to keep up as I zipped along.

Even with my side injury, I was still quick.

If my side weren’t hurting, I would have probably speedily soared away using light-foot techniques.

Walking while tightly bandaging my wound is manageable since the impact doesn’t rattle my torso much.

However, I have to consider my side too.

With muscles in three layers all torn, watching someone move through the mountains with the speed of a seasoned woodsman while I’m still barely making it is quite surprising.

It’s impressive that even with all the filth, it hasn’t decayed and rotted my wound, thanks to Qing’s unique immunity to secondary infections from being a Blood Poison Body.

Qing knew that well, so they pushed their body forward.

Having torn apart and shredded a bunch in just the first year, rolling around in filth, yet somehow my body managed to heal just fine.

So as Qing limped forward, it looked like they were moving rapidly to an outside observer.

“Stop! Stop right there!”

A large procession I’d seen from a distance gradually approached and a voice shouted to block Qing’s path.

Qing frowned at the tone.

Ugh. I was in a rhythm, just striding along.

Now, this rhythm that helped lessen the pain was disrupted, so my voice comes out sharper.

“What’s going on?”

“……?”

The man looked completely perplexed.

And then he asked—

“Didn’t you follow my lord?”

“Huh? Me? Why? Why would I follow you?”

“……?”

“……?”

But the people on horseback felt wronged.

A limping figure with a masked face had been sprinting ferociously up from the mountains.

Even from afar, they looked like the fearsome bandit reeking of trouble, brandishing a heavy Noble Heavy Staff.

The situation was alarming enough for the entire group to grip their swords tightly, ready for a clash.

Honestly, it was a misunderstanding. If I were with other Sapa Warriors, we might have plunged right into a fight, but Qing isn’t that way, and the others aren’t either.

So, the misunderstanding cleared up quickly.

“Ha ha! My bad, sorry. I am Zhang Biao of the Lakeside Bureau, reporting from the Huxue Mountain.”

“I’m Seomun Qing.”

“Moonlight Sword!” “The Most Beautiful in the World!” “Moonlight Sword!”

I caught some odd shout mixed in.

Anyway, I guess it’s customary for the folks here to chant different aliases; it actually lifted my spirits a bit.

“So you’re the Moonlight Sword, Seomun Qing? I never imagined we’d meet here. Are you perhaps heading to Guilin?”

“Namning.”

“Ah. If it’s not urgent, may I ask you to travel with us to Sanggang?”

After a moment’s consideration, since I was just about to reach Guangxi Province, and Sanggang was merely the city right below the mountain, it wouldn’t take much time.

It didn’t feel worth it to give up the comfort of riding along with them for just a few moments saved.

Plenty of food to eat, a little snack as a bonus, riding in the cart, and arriving with some courtesy?

Why should I give that up just to save a few moments?

So Qing found a nice cozy spot on the cargo cart.

Yet somehow, everyone kept stealing glances at me from the officials to the porters in the Bureau.

It wouldn’t change the fact that seeing or not seeing the inside of the carriage wouldn’t be a big deal.

Being the Most Beautiful in the World—or at least a strong contender, naturally, they have to be curious about my looks, right?

But I certainly won’t be unveiling my face to satisfy their curiosity.

As I sat atop the grain sack, pretending I was completely oblivious to everyone’s wishes, Zhang Biao climbed aboard and offered a blanket.

“But, aren’t you cold?”

Qing’s outfit didn’t really fit the winter vibes.

In early winter, with wide sleeves and loose pants fluttering, one might say that just looking at me would give anyone chills.

The cold wind seemed to seep into me just by mere sight.

But as the owner of the Ice White Divine Skill, Qing didn’t feel particularly cold.

One would have to lay on a freezing cold hard floor, in wet clothes, overnight to truly say, “Wow, I’m freezing!”

But can you really find a fool to rest on a cold floor in soaking wet clothes during winter?

So, the chilly wind brushing against my dry, warm skin wasn’t nearly cold enough to distress me.

But I was grateful for the blanket.

Just because I’m not cold doesn’t mean I dislike warmth.

Mr. Biao is quite considerate.

“Ah, thanks. I wouldn’t say I’m cold, but it’s nice to be warm.”

So, as I wrapped myself in the blanket, it became warm and snug, making me drowsy.

Just as I started to doze off…

“Halt!”

The cart came to a sudden stop.

Ugh, what’s going on? I was just about to fall asleep.

Qing wiped the drool from the corner of their mouth, feeling annoyed.

By the way, the Porters were amazed, saying, “Wow, those skilled folk can sleep soundly with just a thin blanket even in the cold!”

Anyway, it looks like something’s up.

Having learned their lesson from the pain, Qing cautiously got up.

Just like every morning, her body leaped up eagerly, but after fainting a few times from the pain, they learned to take a more restrained stance.

Standing on the cart, Qing looked ahead to see a group blocking the road; still too blind to see clearly, but I recognized the hefty bandits in their fur coats wielding axes and sabers.

Then, Zhang Biao stepped forward, flipping his authority card.

“Ah, it’s the heroes of Green Forest. We of the Lakeside Bureau have already paid the toll, but—”

“That toll was for the main mountain road. Now that the great heroes of Tayolkia and the Yangsan Park Corps are here, we must show due respect, right?”

Huh? Qing grimaced.

The Yangsan Park Corps? But they got wiped out, didn’t they?

Well, they were wiped out by me, to be exact!

So, are these leftover minions?

But how did the Yangsan Park Corps’ remnants manage to block my path?

Couldn’t they have sprinted over here with all their might?

Just as Qing was puzzled, a bandit suddenly spoke up.

“Cough, I am the Great Lord, Dou Sam of the Yangsan Park Corps. Don’t you know me? Dou Sam.”

This made Qing jump in shock.

O Tae-sik, wait—Dou Sam’s back?

How’s that possible?

Did he pick up his head and stick it back on?

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