Chapter 448

It’s a fact that a person’s thoughts tend to stay within a certain range of thinking.

That’s why people say everyone’s thoughts are pretty much the same.

Of course, there are those rare individuals who can think outside the box, but that’s why they’re called geniuses.

So, the idea from Cheon Yu-hak to ask someone knowledgeable about No Mountain about geography isn’t exactly groundbreaking.

In fact, one could say it was quite a slow thought, especially given the impressive scholarship of that scholarly student.

It felt more like a realization one might come upon while wandering in the mountains for a day and then thinking, “Ah, this isn’t it.”

It’s just that there’s urgency mixed in.

The treasures are so vicious, truly the most heinous in the world.

Add to that the desire to show off Shintu’s skills in front of the disciples, and one might act without thinking.

Anyway, this isn’t some special thought.

Even if one didn’t learn from the teachings of Confucius, Mencius, or Xunzi that one should ask if unsure, it’s common sense anyone should know unless they’re timid (poor soul) or a pseudo-intellectual (fool).

So this isn’t a difficult thought for even the lesser Sapa dudes to come up with.

How easy would it be for those guys to just wander into a remote village?

Of course, the fortified villagers aren’t basically good people.

Just like the strong barriers surrounding their village, they have a high and strong wall in their hearts that separates their own people from outsiders.

But does that justify them being wiped out?

That’s a big old no.

“Hmm…”

Qing lets out a muted groan.

Of course, it wasn’t just groaning.

The Moonlight Sword traced a crescent on the ground with its true energy, cleanly severing Osan Choo’s ankle.

“Ugh!”

Osan Choo, tightly bound by Shintu’s Binding Technique, cried out through the gag.

Qing jabbed the severed foot with the tip of the blade, lifting it up and then skillfully swung it away.

Thanks to the results from Shintu’s sword training, Qing could wield the sword like a hand.

Osan Choo’s foot flew in a parabola.

It landed gently among the piled bodies, blending in as if it had always been there.

Adding one more lost foot to the pile of corpses was just like putting a bit more sand on a sand dune.

“Geez.”

But even Cheon Yu-hak’s words lacked strength.

Qing offered an excuse.

“I thought he was trying to run away.”

Osan Choo had one foot firmly bound with flesh deeply embedded in the bonds.

Running away? Yeah, right.

If he managed to do that in this state, it would be remarkable enough to earn applause.

Ugh! Osan Choo was doing a pretty decent impression of a shrimp dropped on the ground.

What an astonishing personal skill.

Qing apathetically looked down at that sight and then back at the pile of bodies that used to be villagers.

Osan Choo and his brother knew nothing about No Mountain, so they decided to ask for clarification.

But, the act of asking in itself requires quite a bit of courage.

That’s why many thinkers of the Hundreds of Schools urged people to please just ask if they don’t know; it’s absolutely not something to be ashamed of.

Because they, themselves, feel embarrassed just by the state of being ignorant.

So it’s a heartfelt reminder.

Osan Choo and his brother braved the shame and asked about No Mountain.

But unfortunately, they had come to the wrong village, and the surroundings were nothing but fields all opened up.

How dare they not know?

After all, I put my dignity on the line to inquire, and they say they don’t know?

And with the mountain so close, how can no one know?

Who’s the fool here?

Come on, you’re looking down on me!

That aside, I might as well take care of the unfulfilled desires I couldn’t get around to.

For the record, even if there was an experienced mountain guide, the outcome wouldn’t differ much.

I need to keep the good information to myself.

Whether I received volunteer guidance from the guide or just heard the information, either way, I was doomed to die.

And then what?

I don’t want anyone to know that the Divine Escape had dropped by to gather info.

And the dead don’t say a word.

They just get tossed and piled up like this heap of corpses, tangled and folded without a sound.

“Tsk. Those poor things.”

Cheon Yu-hak clicked his tongue.

To someone who has lived long in the Central Plain, this isn’t shocking at all.

Especially familiar for Shintu, who has dealt with dangerous treasures (and stolen them).

That’s why Shintu steals treasures.

Because danger itself attracts greedy scum who undermine morality.

Naturally bad guys, when mixed with greed, can become even worse.

“I see a few guys cooking rice over in that tiled-roof place. Oh dear, I guess it’s past mealtime. What are you doing? Go and cook some rice. The disciples should offer food, you know?”

The disciple was told to go cook some rice.

Of course, Qing would understand what that meant.

This is the master’s gesture saying, “I’ll handle those fools; you go somewhere else.”

Qing pretended not to hear and glanced at Jin Jangmyung.

“Ah! Jangmyung? Did you hear?”

“Me? I’m not the scholar’s disciple…”

“What are you talking about? Aren’t you making sure to take care of the hospitality for the private students? What? Are you trying to make the Elder’s stomach growl by missing out on this, the youngest disciple? When you get back, should we gather everyone once again?”

Jangmyung, the youngest junior sister of the sect leader and Qing, the youngest disciple of this generation.

If we gather everyone, it’d be the total assembly of senior and junior disciples from the current generation.

However, even if we call everyone, the atmosphere of the Divine Maiden Sect, as usual, wouldn’t be serious.

It would turn into a chatter session filled with laughter, and thanks to our pretty little junior sister, we’d end up skipping our duties and having fun instead. But we’d still complain about being hungry. What do you want to eat today?

“Hey, you were told to cook some rice! Why did you just pass that by? Is your backside too heavy to move?”

“It’s an issue of internal discipline, you know? So you just watch and get your fill.”

“What’s that?”

“Ah, raindrops!”

“Does that stupid raindrop only fall when it’s time to change the subject?”

“Wow, I thought someone was splashing water. Looks like it might actually pour. Master, you better avoid the rain for now. I’ll wrap things up quickly, and Jangmyung should hurry to cook rice.”

With Qing’s bright voice, Cheon Yu-hak sighed deeply.

“Don’t stress too much. After all, we’re practically strangers. Just wrap it up neatly. Even if you get a bit of blood on your hands and feel an immediate sense of relief, ultimately, such cruel acts will only hurt your heart.”

“Hehe. They were the cruel ones. Anyway, I’ll tidy things up nicely and get going; it looks like it’s really going to pour, so you stay inside.”

Qing pushed the master with a laugh.

Of course, her mouth smiled, but her eyes dimmed with ominous colors.

Qing tidied up the Divine Escape’s Osan Choo and his brother nicely.

For reference, to Qing, the act of cleaning up a villain means breaking their arms and legs.

This way, they can be neatly neutralized, incapable of tricks or running away.

Only after Qing finished tidying up did she untie Osan Choo’s gag.

“Alright, anything to say?”

“Hey, speak—what do you want? If it’s gold or silver, I have a promissory note. I’ve got about fifty gold coins written on it, and if you want, I can throw in hundreds more, so take it.”

“Do I look like I’m poor, considering I’m in this state? I’m rich, you know?”

“Then what do you want? How about the Divine Escape? It’s an unparalleled divine skill that creates masters of the realm.”

“I have plenty of divine skills myself. I’ve got so many that I sometimes forget what I learned. When I lie down to sleep, I think, ‘Ah, if only I had used that technique back then, I could’ve easily won,’ and then I kick my blanket.”

As Qing replied, she moved around busily.

But what exactly she was doing was anyone’s guess.

She must’ve pulled out some used blankets, grabbing each brother and rolling them up, tying them with rope multiple times.

For reference, tying ropes is a bit of a hobby for the common folk in the Central Plain, and you could find them rolling about in bunches in any household.

“Why, why are you doing this!? Do you have any grudge against me? If it’s with my father—”

“You’re the one who shot an assassin out of nowhere. I didn’t even know who you were, and how would I have a grudge against your dad?”

“That’s… I’ll apologize! I just got agitated seeing you trying to harm my brother!”

Qing stared blankly at Osan Choo.

“Why did you kill the villagers?”

“My father doesn’t know I came here.”

“Ah. It’s to silence him? Well then, I should block my own mouth, too.”

“Why are you acting so fierce! Killing such pitiful people. Ah. Is this village your hometown or something?”

“No, I’m here for the first time.”

“No, but why!”

Osan Choo erupted in frustration, unable to understand.

Qing was just as confused.

What in the world are these scoundrels from the Central Plain.

Why are they like this? What’s the problem?

Was there really a need to agonize over who killed whom and who has the right to do this and that?

Because it’s all about a different way of thinking.

Qing hailed from the most peaceful and secure land in that world.

Murder itself is horrific, and in a safe society, one wouldn’t even imagine that someone could do that to them.

But the Central Plain?

In the Central Plain, people kill over trivial arguments, murder over minor gains, and good folks turn into bandits, rapists, and human traffickers at the drop of a hat.

It’s the way of life in a still uncivilized era.

In terms of Qing’s homeland’s history, it’s a barbaric primitive ancient time with over a hundred years until the concept of human rights exists.

Qing clicked her tongue and asked.

“Forget it. About that escape skill? Do you have a secret manual? Because I only take advances. Hey lady, could you sit still for a moment? I’m trying to focus here.”

As Qing wrapped another brother up in a blanket, she smacked the cheek of the one who just couldn’t stay still.

After all, he was flipping around with his limbs all broken, rolling in the blanket.

Because pain surged through his broken limbs.

“Why would I carry a manual around? The manual’s in my head.”

“In your head? So, can I just crack your head open and take it?”

“If you promise to save me—”

“No, I’m not that foolish. My son’s dead, and suddenly some random guy’s strolling around using my family name. Isn’t the Escape going to come chasing for revenge right away?”

“Um…”

“Call out your secret technique, at least. If I don’t finish before I tie your brothers up completely, there will be no more negotiations. I’ll just kill all of you and bury you.”

At that, Osan Choo carefully opened his mouth.

But Qing seemed absent-minded as she fluttered about, casually laying out another blanket on the ground.

Osan Choo became anxious.

He said there’d be no negotiations if she bundled up all his brothers, yet she was just going about laying down blankets with no sign of rushing.

“……By your skill, you could take the lives of ten thousand people, I’ve called it all! I’ve called it all!”

“Um, red? Not that impressive?”

“I called it all! So now—”

“Nope. You claimed it’s divine skill. What’s so divine about it? Oh, maybe it’s a good heart technique? Why don’t you call out your heart technique for me?”

“What’s that, wait, stop! I’ll tell you! I was just watching my people die, and the world felt—”

Qing finished bundling up the last brother as Osan Choo’s invocation ended.

Divine Escape, red.

Escape from Life’s Heart, golden.

“Oh, gold. So it was a decent heart technique. No wonder you managed to meet the master realm. Indeed, inner strength matters.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You don’t need to know. If you do, you’ll get hurt—no, you’ll die. I’ll kill you.”

As she answered, Qing continued laying out blankets.

Osan Choo gasped, yelling.

Since all the brothers had been tied up, only Osan Choo was left.

“Why are you laying out blankets!? I’ve already invoked everything! The promise—”

“No. Why? You think I’d memorized everything just because I listened to your invocation? Can you do that?”

“Um…”

“Now, lie still. Oh, I want to eat gimbap. When I get back, I’ll ask someone to make it for me. Hmm. Is there even gim in the Central Plain? I don’t think I’ve seen any?”

“What are you talking about?”

That was the end of the pleasantries.

Qing naturally put the gag back in his mouth.

---