Chapter 38

청 was the only one who knew that she had made up her mind.

So everyone just went about their business as usual.

The Taepyeong Sword Sect repeatedly demanded their rightful payment for protection services.

Boss Jang tried to argue his case, feeling wronged.

But the warriors of the Taepyeong Sword Sect were actually just low-ranking members of the organization. They had no authority to decide whether to accept the protection fee or not.

In the end, Boss Jang reluctantly paid the protection fee.

It was merely the result of a future already decided long ago; nothing particularly special about it.

The peculiar events were happening elsewhere.

There was a woman who had caught the attention of Nam Gangjeong, the leader of the Taepyeong Three.

Ever since the famous beauty, Lady Seo, frowned in the past, the majority of people in the Central Plain developed an odd sexual preference for frowning faces.

As an ordinary warrior, Nam Gangjeong shared the same preference as everyone else.

A woman slumping over her drink with a weary expression that seemed somewhat uncomfortable!

To top it off, she wasn’t even that beautiful, which made him more interested, thinking he might actually have a chance with her.

If it weren’t for the grave matters of the clan, he would have run over immediately to share her troubles.

Just then, he noticed a woman approaching him.

She was even smiling with her eyes!

Dreams and fantasies danced around in Nam Gangjeong’s head.

He should have been looking at the woman’s hands instead of her face.

If he had, he would have remembered the old saying from the tavern: “No one who approaches while gripping a wine bottle with that kind of hold is a decent person.”

Since good people don’t come like this, Qing, smiling sweetly, was definitely not in a good state.

Sadly, Nam Gangjeong’s dreamy future plans came to a crashing halt, quite literally, as the collision between his head and the wine bottle occurred.

It was a classic battle between cheap porcelain and his skull.

And the result was exactly what everyone would have easily predicted.

Crash.

Shattered pieces of porcelain mixed with the scent of the host’s perfume and flew through the air.

Splashing on Nam Gangjeong, soaked in harsh liquor, he staggered around.

It wasn’t because he was drunk; it was because he had taken a solid hit to the crown of his head.

Yet, this not-so-great warrior didn’t end up collapsing completely after getting hit by the wine bottle.

The reason he was still standing is that people in this world were too busy to split things into perfect categories like first, middle, and last.

Nam Gangjeong shouted.

“W-What’s going on here!”

“Ruckus. Disturbance. And also… ahem, troublemaking,” Qing answered, clearly defining her actions.

Normally, a sword would be drawn at this point, but Qing’s looks granted Nam Gangjeong a moment of patience.

“Young lady, you are being exceedingly rude to a disciple of the Taepyeong Sword Sect. Have you perhaps overindulged…?”

“What? Why don’t you understand?” Qing tilted her head.

“I’m not causing trouble with some Taepyeong person; I’m just making a ruckus in a tavern.”

Nam Gangjeong pondered what the difference was between them.

Qing kindly provided the answer.

“You received protection fees, didn’t you? Isn’t the protection fee for guarding a tavern from people causing ruckus?”

“…?”

Qing pointed at herself with her long finger.

“Here. Troublemaker.”

Qing folded her finger and gave Nam Gangjeong a gentle shove. His jaw jerked slightly.

Following that, Qing’s other fist made a crescent arc.

Nam Gangjeong’s misaligned jaw was promptly set back into place.

It was somewhat more forceful than intended, causing his head to spin drastically.

Having been hit in the jaw, Nam Gangjeong staggered and went down, while Qing interlocked her fingers and stretched.

“Well then. Now for some additional chaos. Are you just going to watch?”

That remark was like a signal to start.

Yet, she still didn’t draw her sword, not because she was of the righteous sect, but because there had been a long-standing trend in the Central Plain of underestimating female martial artists.

After all, the clans typically roamed the streets like common folks, so they couldn’t possibly stand out that much.

Qing fought, dodging and striking. When she pushed, they both tumbled to the ground.

When a guy charged at her, she kicked his shin, and he rolled around gripping his leg.

“Not average skills! Everyone, draw your swords!”

Overcoming a momentary brain fog, Nam Gangjeong shouted and rushed in.

However, the level of cuteness remained the same.

Qing was deliberately fighting without using her inner strength.

If she had used her inner strength, she wouldn’t just be hitting; she would be devastating.

But even without inner strength, Qing was still a mighty force.

The prowess gleaned from her martial arts, combined with her naturally exceptional capabilities, had made her one of the most formidable in the Central Plain.

Her base abilities were remarkably impressive.

Qing had could withstand the early part of her life in the Central Plain, where knife fights were a common occurrence, even with the soft-hearted mind of a modern person.

As Qing skillfully navigated among the blades, selecting spots to hit, she suddenly noticed the crown of a man’s head falling forward nearby.

Oh? Could I do that too? Can I give him a good smack?

A fleeting moment of long-lasting humiliation flashed through her thoughts.

The debt of gratitude she couldn’t possibly repay to her master.

With that thought, she hoped for her disciple to bestow a favor in return.

Just as Qing was clenched her fist, which had a prominent knuckle.

“Stop! Stop!”

Nam Gangjeong, having taken quite a beating, waved his arms frantically in surrender.

His eyelids were already turning a nasty shade of blue and were swollen.

“Please, show mercy. I acknowledge my shortcomings, so allow me to withdraw now.”

He wasn’t actually showing mercy but just folding under pressure.

Though he pretended to strike with inner strength, he had caused no bones to break, so he looked alright standing there.

“What’s this? This is your Taepyeong Sword Sect, huh? Wow, I remember this. Easier than I expected. So, are you really just going to back down? Isn’t this your territory?”

“As I’ve already said.”

“Enough.”

Qing interrupted Nam Gangjeong.

“Since I’ve spared your life, just leave your sword here. I need to get something out of this too.”

At those words, the warriors of the Taepyeong Sword Sect exchanged nervous glances, hesitating.

However, as the leader, Nam Gangjeong stepped up.

“Young lady, the sword is equivalent to the very life of a swordsman.”

“Forget it. I’m a swordsman too, you know? How about we spice things up with an exciting duel for our lives instead?”

Qing pointed with her chin toward the table where the wine was resting.

Upon seeing Moonlight Sword, the warriors eventually laid down their weapons.

The sight of the Taepyeong warriors, slumping their shoulders and departing, was rather disheartening.

“Phew.”

It was somewhat entertaining, but man…!

As soon as the fun ended, a wave of dull pain and various annoying physical ailments returned, cramping and pinching Qing’s expression.

Even a little leaked out, leaving her feeling damp and grimy.

Was this how all the women in the world lived? Oh my!

Can’t believe I can’t even achieve supreme mastery, how pathetic, so pathetic.

Qing searched for some liquor and then realized she had a brainwave.

Once a bottle, now all scattered.

My drink…

“Here, Jeomsoi…”

“Uh, excuse me, guest.”

Instead of Jeomsoi, it was the boss himself who approached.

The round bottle he held oozed a luxury vibe right from the packaging.

Qing waved her hands dismissively.

“Eh, you don’t have to be too thankful.”

“No, it’s not that. Please, take this.”

Boss Kim was stumbling over his words.

The meaning was obvious.

He probably wanted her to leave.

“Hey, boss. If I leave now, will you be safe? Those guys will definitely come back with their moms. If I’m not here, they’ll probably deal with you instead. Don’t you run a business regularly?”

Qing had learned this fact through her experiences.

Little hoodlums who are part of the martial world often ran off to fetch their moms or equivalent after fleeing.

Back when she was struggling in life, she had to endure several beatings and run away.

And now? I’m a master. An incredible master.

But, a really shabby state of a master.

“I’ll take care of everything here, just bring out the alcohol. Ugh, so irritating. Damn it.”

Qing’s annoyance radiated out.

Boss Kim looked pale as he quickly placed the alcohol container down and darted towards the kitchen or a similar place.

Qing peeled away the oil-soaked cloth covering the pot.

As soon as she opened it, a strong alcoholic aroma lunged at her.

It was a small pot about the size of a child’s head, but if you were a master, you could pour without spilling even a drop into a small cup the size of a five-pea.

Taking a sip, it was hard to tell if it was liquor or something else altogether.

And that’s why she liked it.

As she downed several cups in a row without any snacks, an old beggar approached to speak.

“Hey there, young lady.”

“What? I’m not buying anything. Get lost.”

Qing waved her arm gruffly.

“Heh, the young lady is being quite unkind.”

“Old man, I’ve had my share of bad experiences with beggars, alright? You should be thankful if I’m being unkind!”

“Hehe…”

“Or else I might just launch an old person attack.”

Qing usually held a soft spot for elderly folk.

Here, she didn’t mean the term elderly in a nice way.

She was referring to those who can’t hide their wrinkles and who have little time left to live.

“Ahem, ahem.”

The old man coughed lightly.

He was strangely patting his waist.

It looked like he was asking her to have a look at something.

Qing glanced over and noticed his rags were super shabby, but the rope tied around his waist looked brand new.

Qing knew these kinds of beggars.

They were the strongest of the bunch.

In this ancient China, some even learned martial arts, and those who tied such ropes around their waists were usually quite skilled.

Qing’s past experiences usually confirmed her knowledge.

And like usual, her knowledge was a bit short.

But now, Qing was a master.

Even if a beggar was strong, they were still just a beggar. She wasn’t scared.

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