Chapter 454

Regardless of everything, the dual-wielding warrior scoffs and smoothly draws their swords.

Swish, the well-honed blades make a refreshing sound as they trace a large circle.

Oh, don’t they draw their swords with style?

Qing couldn’t help but admire the sight a little.

“The randy dog from Seohwa can’t shake off its habits and is out here trying to seduce women, huh?”

“What? Randy dog? How dare you… do you even know who I am—”

Pawnsoul almost shouted but his words got cut off midway.

“Who am I? Just a randy dog relying on daddy’s reputation. You think your daddy can protect you even on this flat land?”

At that, Pawnsoul faltered, his momentum crumbling.

However, his pride still stood.

“How dare you insult the Iron Blood Sect?”

“Dogs bark in their own territories. Step outside, and all you’ll get is eaten alive. What, you want to try it with your sword?”

Pawnsoul rolls his eyes.

Weak against strength and strong against weakness—this is the nature of the Sapa and Qing.

The dual-wielding warrior was too strong, making him hesitate.

After all, there are plenty of famous martial artists in the city.

And yet, he seemed unfazed by even the mention of the Iron Blood Sect?

That must mean he has backers even more powerful than that sect.

“Tsk, this spoils the mood. Let’s go. Hmph, luck is on your side.”

Pawnsoul spat before turning his back, pretending to be offended.

His large family consisting of six siblings left as a cluster, leaving only the dual-wielding warrior alone in the spot, much to everyone’s disappointment.

“Wait, was that guy a famous martial artist?”

“Nope. He’s not even that famous. He’s just a rich guy with a decent face, charming ladies, getting bored, and then tossing them aside like garbage. But you know, the women who fall for him are quite the problem too.”

A handsome rich guy charming women is what Qing would express using her hometown’s slang.

“Guess it did feel a bit odd. Um, thanks for the help?”

“No problem. I just heard a familiar name and thought I’d check out this punk acting slick. You’re Unyeonjeong, right?”

“Yes. Why do you ask?”

“Hmm. Seems like we might share the same name. Well, then.”

At that, Qing’s eyes sparkled.

Oh, someone knows Unyeonjeong?

Are they a minion of the Blood Sect?

But then again, their handwriting was blue… why, Heaven’s forbearance? Isn’t it strangely high?

Very suspicious indeed.

Qing scanned the warrior from top to bottom.

Oh.

Dual-wielding swords. Short even with the large hat.

A flat and slim chest.

Yet, the size of the hips is impressive.

Seeing their considerable width almost comparable to that of the shoulders, someone suddenly came to mind.

In the meantime, the dual-wielding warrior nodded and turned to leave.

“Wait a minute. Since you’ve helped me, how about I treat you to a cup of tea?”

“Eh? No, it’s not something I did expecting anything in return. Don’t worry about it.”

“Oh come on, don’t be like that. How about some alcohol instead? A bowl of fishcake soup with some good booze, or do you prefer the other way around?”

The warrior glances back at the stall where fishcakes are stacked high.

“…But it’s still bright out, and you want to drink?”

“Then let’s wait until the sun sets, shall we? Come on, it’s just to show my gratitude.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m just not in the mood.”

“Oh come on, are you going to keep dodging like this?”

The warrior seemed to recognize the line from somewhere and tilted their head, but suddenly as they leaned closer to whisper in their ear, they jumped back, startled.

—Mo Yong Young Lady? Is that you?

“W-who…?”

“Come on, let’s go. Some drinks? Tea? Snacks? Today is a day to celebrate my savior, so let’s enjoy it to the max!”

The warrior stuttered, caught off guard, and couldn’t help but get dragged along.

The onlookers exchanged strange glances as if they felt an unusual déjà vu.

—-

Once inside the tavern, as the warrior removed their large hat, it turned out to be Geomhwa’s striking beauty.

“Wow, what a coincidence, running into you here. How have you been?”

However, Mo Yong Joo-hee was activating her brainpower, trying to figure out who this overly friendly person was.

And she had no clue about the boy beside her, staring with snake-like jealousy.

But the social skills she honed in the Dragon and Phoenix Association never faded.

“Uh, um, Yu? Am I right? Oh, maybe I’m mistaken? If I am, I apologize.”

It was a roundabout way of saying she didn’t know their name.

If she’d known the name, Mo Yong Joo-hee would have recognized them immediately.

So maybe this was someone she could have run into a few times at a small provincial gathering.

And it’s only natural for women from those small associations to always want to catch the attention of the Phoenix Association’s host.

So, her overjoyed reaction was really nothing strange.

“What? You’ve already forgotten me? It’s me, Qing, Seomun Qing.”

“Huh?”

“Oh, I’m in disguise. How do I look? Seem convincing? Clearly, you didn’t recognize me.”

“Uh? Now that you mention it, it’s just that, Seomun Young Lady, why are you here?”

Mo Yong Joo-hee raised her hand to her chest, as if trailing something.

“Oh, this too is a disguise. Here, look.”

Qing opened her collar to reveal the bandages wrapped around her.

Jin Jangmyung pokes Qing’s side.

“Who are you?”

“This here is Jin Jangmyung, the youngest of the Divine Maiden Sect. Jangmyung, say hi to your friend, the sword artist Geomhwa, Mo Yong Joo-hee.”

“Friend?”

At this, a stunned expression crossed Jin Jangmyung’s face.

“Greetings, I’m Jin Jangmyung. We owe our thanks to you.”

Mo Yong Joo-hee blinks her eyes, surprised.

“Seomun Young Lady? Is that really you?”

“Enough with the formalities. Young Lady, what is that about?”

At this, Mo Yong Joo-hee’s face brightened up.

It was as if a faded flower suddenly blossomed, and her beauty radiated brightly throughout the room.

Jin Jangmyung’s gaze sharpens once more.

Regardless, on the opposite side of the table, the warrior shifts closer to Qing and leans on her.

“Hehe. So, how have you been?”

“I’ve been well. How about you, Mo Yong Young Lady? Are you alright now? And sleeping well, uh…?”

“Thanks to you, I’m better now. But, uh, it’s still not deep sleep, so if Seomun Young Lady minds, maybe tonight I…”

At this, Jin Jangmyung’s eyes sharpen again.

However, Qing shows no interest.

“Glad to hear you’re doing better. But what brings you here? Did you come to find the Heart Consumption Technique too?”

Mo Yong Joo-hee’s eyes widened.

Of course, Jin Jangmyung’s gaze remained sharp.

“The Heart Consumption Technique? The vicious arts? Why on earth…?”

“What? You didn’t come here knowing that?”

“I just wanted to get some fresh air. Somewhere no one knows, you know? Not that I often want to be alone, but…I’m alright, just feeling a bit… that’s why it’s sort of close, and…”

“It’s alright. Everything is alright.”

Qing gently pats Mo Yong Joo-hee’s back with a sympathetic heart.

Only to be startled by a sigh, thinking, oh wait, this isn’t right.

But as Mo Yong Joo-hee leans in more heavily, easily startled Qing puts out her hand out of surprise.

“Um. I wanted to be alone, but I might have overstepped by asking you here.”

“Not at all! I-I really missed you Seomun Young Lady. Just having you nearby makes me feel so much more at ease. It’s nice…”

Mo Yong Joo-hee’s expression is bright.

In fact, Mo Yong Joo-hee had always suffered before.

One might think it’s not a big deal to complain about not having a bit of chest, but to her, it was a profoundly despairing wound, so she’s always been in pain.

So, she couldn’t help but lash out with sharp words.

Didn’t those with chests deserve a little bullying from her?

But after suffering deeply, and having someone kind to embrace her despite the sharp thorns, Mo Yong Joo-hee came to a big realization.

Everyone has their own hurt and scars, and that pain, whether great or small, is very deep and personal to them.

Feeling embarrassed for having thrown fits insisting on her suffering being understood while wanting to be a comforting presence for someone else, she decided to change.

Strangely, as she did so, people began flocking to her.

And within the company of others, her painful heart calmed down, and smiles naturally appeared.

But, still, sometimes it does hurt.

Someone should recognize my pain too, she thought as an unruly mood began to stir, leading her to step out for air—

“Hehe…”

But what if she meets someone who understands her pain?

As Mo Yong Joo-hee’s arm gently brushes against Qing’s, she looks around as if to ask if it’s okay to sit close.

Qing’s face is touched with a hint of worry.

Is this okay, though?

With her speech and everything.

She seems almost like a child again; perhaps she’s still hurting quite a bit?

However, what Qing doesn’t know is that Mo Yong Joo-hee’s reputation has completely transformed and is currently on the rise.

Suddenly, it seems she has matured, with Geomhwa now radiating warmth and wisdom, giving her the aura of an adult.

Though small in stature, she has inevitably become a big sister.

But sisters also want someone to be their little brother.

Yet, Qing is none the wiser.

Mo Yong Joo-hee wouldn’t admit to being embarrassed about being a grown-up either.

“Jangmyung, why are you bothering her? Quit it; you’ll mess with the scars.”

“Hmph.”

With two small folks rubbing cheeks against each other.

Both have the right to act like kids, after all.

Qing casually asks, “By the way, do you know Unyeonjeong?”

“Well, she’s a traitor, a minion of the Blood Sect.”

And before her betrayal, she was a patrolman of the Martial Alliance, not to mention a member of the Jin Jang clan.

So the later members of the Martial Alliance surely knew about her.

“Oops.”

Qing finally realizes the big flaw of impersonating Unyeonjeong.

While it’s good to seek revenge, she hadn’t even considered that she might be more famous among the orthodox sect.

Uh. I’d better hold back next time.

Only impersonate when absolutely necessary.

“By the way, I think you mentioned the Heart Consumption Technique earlier…”

“Oh. They say Divine Treasure is hidden in No Mountain. And that Divine Treasure is the Heart Consumption Technique?”

“Oh, no wonder so many martial artists swarm this city; shouldn’t we inform the Alliance right away?”

“It’s too late. If we let them know now, the Investigative Unit of the Martial Alliance will take at least two months to arrive. By that time, the trees in No Mountain will have been completely dug up.”

“Well then, is that why Seomun Young Lady is here, searching for that technique?”

“To find and eliminate it. Ideally, discreetly. That’s why I’m in disguise.”

At this, Mo Yong Joo-hee’s expression grows resolute.

—-

Back at the tavern, as Qing sprawled out on her bed, around evening, Cheon Yu-hak burst through the door.

“Hey, what’s happening here?”

“Oh, Master! You’re here?”

As Qing jumped up, the two little ones sprawled out on the bed were sent tumbling.

Qing’s rock-hard abs are more than enough to throw off two kids leaning against her.

“Hmm? What’s with those young ladies?”

“They’re Mo Yong Joo-hee from the Mo Yong Clan. She wants to help me in finding the Heart Consumption Technique. Oh, Mo Yong Young Lady, this is my second master. Uh…”

“You can call me Cheon Hak-sa.”

After a quick round of introductions, Cheon Yu-hak unfurls a map dramatically.

“Here’s the peak, the highest summit. When people mention a stone tablet, they often refer to such high points, so this is a key spot. Not to mention, the scenery is bound to be nice.”

Then he points downwards.

“I’ve heard there’s a rectangular rock formation called ‘Natural Stone.’ Seems too obvious, so I doubt it’s there; if it’d been obvious, the technique wouldn’t have been taken already.”

Once again, Cheon Yu-hak fingered places on the map.

“Here, here, and here, there’s a big cave reportedly on the way to that peak.”

With the map in hand, it makes for a rather plausible plan.

If only they’d gotten this map sooner.

But where on earth did they get such a map?

Suddenly, Qing spots a red stamp stamped in a corner of the map.

Commander of the Daofeng Province.

Hmm. So you raided the military tent?

For reference, the Commander of the Daofeng Province leads an army of around sixty to eighty thousand soldiers.

Qing gradually folds the map, ensuring the stamp isn’t visible.

---