Chapter 514

It’s been a while since things went quiet; all that surrounded the duel ground were the sounds of the wind and a bird flapping its wings while crying.

The long silence stiffened the expressions of Dan Hwa-cheol and the swordsman.

Neither of the three managed to win against one another, so with just two people, there seemed no need to share blades any longer.

But hadn’t they already entered a life-and-death match?

If they wanted to escape from here, they’d have to beg for their lives in front of all these people.

To beg for one’s life from an enemy is, for a person from the Central Plain, a disgrace worse than death itself.

Dan Hwa-cheol and the swordsman exchanged glances.

With gritted teeth, Dan Hwa-cheol was ready for death.

The swordsman’s trembling eyes seemed to argue for a plea for life, but—

Wasn’t the conclusion already determined about this life-and-death match? They weren’t told to fill in just one person.

The Cheonhwa Sword had already shown mercy, so if they begged for their lives here, it would truly create a fool of the world.

Three warriors losing to one younger one?

Especially against a female warrior, and using cowardly methods that were considered taboo?

The only exit to not be a laughingstock as a tragic avenger was to end it with death.

Besides, would they truly spare someone just because they asked for it?

For those from the Central Plain, seeking revenge means that the greater the humiliation suffered, the greater the honor returned.

Just look at the example of King Goujian of Yue, who was praised as the greatest avenger after swallowing his enemy’s waste; anyone who doesn’t take revenge after enduring such humiliation will end up being a fool recorded in history.

So they knew that sparing would definitely lead to trouble; only a fool would let someone live.

Thus, the swordsman’s eyes gradually filled with a desolate light, ceasing to tremble.

He’d accepted he was at a dead end.

Unless someone came forward, they had no choice but to fight each other.

And then it happened.

A martial artist stepped forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with the two swordsmen.

“I am Yu Seung-chan, the master of the Nine-Dragon Hall. It’s unfortunate that you’re not in perfect condition, but I must at least have one head to offer on the altar for my disciples.”

“If you can.”

With this, the sound of weapons clashing filled the duel ground once again, now with four participants.

Qing rolled and tumbled on the ground.

Ding, it was the sound of an irreverent bell.

The swordsman who had been struck properly by the Restoration Method spewed blood from his mouth and collapsed to the floor.

The contents of his body, completely melted, gushed out in crimson.

Yet the pain must have fled him.

It seemed like he was sent off to Buddha’s side with a flick of the finger.

Hmm? Is this Buddha’s teaching? Am I right?

Qing tilted her head at the image of Buddha’s Physical Body.

After the swordsman exited, a new challenger joined: a person named Myung-jun, a master of the flapping Yuyeop Dao.

The blades swayed as they danced, creating an unpredictable environment that made it hard to clash weapons directly.

Holding on with her body, Qing gritted her teeth, but flesh tore, and her robe was stained red.

In a flash, a fierce light glimmered in Qing’s eyes.

At that moment, her sword spun brightly, and with an opposite grip, it twisted like a snake, digging into Yu Seung-chan’s neck.

The Hundred-Eight Sura Sword. The fifth move.

Poison Fang.

This wasn’t an intentional display of demonic art.

It simply unfolded naturally.

An understanding that reached her was whispered by the demonic art’s intention into Qing’s ear.

Have you seen a beast fight?

Generally, fierce beasts don’t care for their own bodies in a fight; every battle is the cruel cycle of life and death in nature.

Thus, a beast, torn and mangled, ultimately sustains fatal wounds while not recoiling from pain, but rather, unleashing its wild nature.

Being beaten, bruised, and aching all over, the pain oddly transformed into a pleasure that engulfed her body.

Strangely, power surged, and a smile appeared on her lips.

A person is also a beast.

March forward along a bloody path as if to ascend to the king of beasts.

In a place at the foot of a mountain, there can only be one master, so eliminate all predators and proclaim that the world is now your domain.

In Qing’s eyes, a ferocious wildness brewed.

Her gaze split vertically, glaring with a yellow light.

At any moment, the viciousness of a wild beast roiled within her body, ready to explode.

“Whew.”

Instead of a beast’s roar, Qing let out a long sigh.

Yes, this is demonic art on the level of the tenth stage.

None of them are weaklings.

Though a raging impulse to bite the throats of every warrior surged, was it really worth it to lose dignity now?

If my master knew, she’d bombard me with reprimands for acting like a wild beast.

As Qing’s will resonated, the Zhu Yang’s Mindfulness Sutra responded, clearing her head.

The ancient emperor Yan Emperor Shennong was a conservative old man, so it made sense that he crafted the Zhu Yang’s Mindfulness Sutra to calm the heart and awaken the mind.

As Qing’s gaze began to color with the Dao, it still retained a glimmer of the beast’s light.

Pain as strength. Just like a beast.

This is just what I need right now.

Qing boldly declared.

“Next.”

Responding to that was a man named Jang Bal-san from the city of Ganghwa.

A giant wielding a brutal iron rod bristling with spikes at both ends.

And once again, Qing was struck and tumbled.

Then, at another moment.

A sword lunged for her heart.

Simultaneously, the spiked iron rod targeted her shoulder, and a dazzling tide of Yuyeop Dao surged chaotically.

Qing’s eyes flashed.

Instead, she stepped forward diagonally, deflecting the sword to slide along her side, and thrust the Moonlight Sword’s weighty blade toward her foe.

The Moonlight Sword pierced into the enemy’s side, bursting through their belly.

With a gasp, the sound of breath escaping came with the taking out of one person, and their other weapons buried themselves atop Qing.

Qing’s shoulder bent at a strange angle, nearly carving her own shoulder as she leaned forward.

Her movement was almost serpentine, like a creature devoid of bones.

The iron rod with its mighty energy barely grazed the air.

But what about the back?

In an instant, surging flames of agony roared from her back, as if set ablaze.

Her back was marred with ghastly wounds like a constellation of scars.

Gah, it hurts, it really hurts. But I can endure.

The muscles on my back? Hmm, they seem fine.

After holding my ground against three peak-level fighters, I’ve done reasonably well.

More than the injury, that irritating sneeze that barely touched the roof of my mouth before snaking down worries me more.

Oh, I think I’m getting closer to understanding something.

Just a little bit, just about to grasp it.

Bathed in rags, covered in blood, yet the elegant woman lowers her sword.

“Next.”

Was it Dan Hwa-cheol?

As Qing extended her palm toward him, her thumb pierced through his cheekbone, firmly grasping his head as she brought it down toward the incoming iron rod.

Swish, as her thumb drilled through his face, he couldn’t shine in panic from the horrendous pain, failing to raise his defenses.

She was shredded by the dazzling Yuyeop Dao.

“Next.”

Now the first three were gone, but still, three enemies remained.

When did my head get smashed, again?

Ah, it was that spiked rod-wielding bastard… what was his name? Jang Bal-san? Was it Jeong? Something feels off.

He was the one with the iron rod, and had his legs taken from him.

A vital artery ran through his thigh, and with no physician by the duel ground, he bled out ominously, pooling crimson on the ground.

Next.

Coughing up what seemed like a bowl of blood.

When some dimwit rushed in barehanded, thinking he could take me lightly, turned out he was a master of qi mastery instead.

How sneaky, pretending to be a martial artist.

Or is he actually smart?

Who wouldn’t let their guard down against someone who looks like an ordinary martial artist?

But Qing’s inner strength had long surpassed the peak level.

Judging from his long battle, he was probably low on qi since I attempted the Restoration Method against someone of greater strength.

Due to the massive gap in inner strength, his energy rebounded, and without missing a beat, Qing instead forced her true energy inside him.

In an instant, skin and muscle burst, showing off her bare arm bones.

While I screamed, the master’s head fell, finally letting the noise pollution cease.

Next.

It was a rare female master from the Sapa sect in the martial world.

Vowing to avenge her husband, she was supposed to be a woman in mourning, but even as she flicked her wrist, she deftly unleashed poison ammo.

She set a record, surviving until five fighters had been replaced.

However, as with all those throwing projectiles, three of them ended up targeting the same avenger and interrupted the life-and-death match, thus her record won’t be acknowledged.

Next.

The next avenger had deceived her by pretending to be peak-level but was merely peak-level fodder.

And the instant the fight began, he ambushed the Sapa female master, thrusting his blade into her.

In the first place, he wasn’t targeting Qing but avenging what his brother’s death due to the poisonous blade.

After realizing the lethal weapon lodged in his stomach, he collapsed while vomiting blood.

Suddenly left to fend for myself against the last two, one swift stroke and my head rolled.

It’s a basic rule to fight three against one, but the remaining two were too busy fighting among themselves.

Because of that, Qing stood alone.

Around her lay the grim remains of twelve bloody corpses.

Under the exposed shoulders, not a single spot was unscathed.

Her bloody eyes were red, her lips cracked from several beatings leaving blood-clots, and her swollen cheeks were bruised.

Her hair was in disarray, and there wasn’t a single clean part on her martial arts attire; it’d just soaked through with blood, clinging to her body.

Yet even in such a dismal state, those watching looked on with profound admiration.

At least those of the audience began to contemplate stepping up while licking their lips, the despicable Sapa people.

Some even shook their heads in disbelief.

Every spectator who had once cheered and hollered merely fell silent and closed their mouths.

Perhaps due to her unsullied beauty that continued to shine even in such terrible shape.

Or maybe it was the wonder of one martial artist overcoming three others after enduring the brutal life-and-death contest.

Alternatively, it could stem from a fear of the hands that could easily dismember a person, but the fear was also a form of respect.

“Next—”

“Stop! Stop!”

A loud voice interrupted Qing, who was about to call for the next.

“I know it’s improper for a lowly soldier to butt into the events of martial world heroes! However, I also realize that continuing this life-and-death match is not right! Is this indeed the code of your martial world!”

It was Deputy Commander Wang Sang-ryong.

Why had he been sitting there until now? Because Qing hadn’t signaled for a halt.

Thus, it meant that she was giving the go-ahead to wrap things up.

I mean, if I say that I’m tired and want to stop now, wouldn’t that make me look bad?

Moreover, someone might seize the opportunity and charge at me.

So I’d signaled with my fingers tapping on the sword hilt for the deputy commander to prearrange to halt the duel.

“Indeed, revenge should be with a clear purpose, stepping boldly into the world! Look! With blood spilled, she stands chaotic, with not a single part of her body unscathed, and looks utterly ghastly!”

Yet despite this, she did not shy away from seeking revenge.

There she stood, dignified in front of everyone; surely, the noble men of the world should take note!

So step back now!

The land you stand on is the military’s garrison granted by the Emperor, and as the great general, I won’t allow any further intrusion!”

“General, I’m fine,” Qing feigned some staggering, trying to dissuade him.

But Wang Sang-ryong’s voice grew louder.

“Fine? What do you mean by fine!”

“Originally, one must resolve their own entanglements. An avenging grudge isn’t something to be deferred for personal safety.”

Gasps erupted among the onlookers.

All eyes sparkled, astonished by the remarkable spirit of the female martial artist, hoping eagerly to share her story among the townsfolk.

“Humph. Revenge should indeed be achieved by one’s own strength. Since you grew weaker from the consecutive life-and-death matches, this isn’t due to you! It’s a result of you relying on the valor of others who rushed to rise up!”

Is relying on others to avenge your grudges not a pitiful and despicable act?

So this general shall not allow your martial artists to become anything less than honorable!

Wow, this general not only commands his troops but wields a tongue like a great general too.

What a truly impressive oratory that even Qing couldn’t help but admire.

---