Chapter 522

The crowd is eagerly hoping for the next challenger to appear as the Life and Death Match continues.

It’s a challenger, not a revenger.

Originally, a challenge means an act to push someone already seated off their spot; it’s not about deciding something with those of a higher rank.

This is how the crowd perceives it.

But do spectators want revenge just for fun?

Those claiming revenge might measure this and that to seek a fair fight, and maybe they want to cluck their tongues in displeasure.

If the grudge were really deep, shouldn’t they just charge forward without a second thought?

That’s the trait of thoughtless fools, and those blinded by rage have all perished in the Yubang District dueling arena.

True dangerous grudges come from those who quietly wait for their enemy’s weak moments and strike with unavoidable daggers.

The ones who endure patiently, weighing advantages and disadvantages, are the true avengers and genuinely dangerous individuals that are left.

Now is not the time.

I’ll just watch how long they can act all haughty and impressive.

Of course, Qing understands this truth.

Though she doesn’t step forward, those sharp gazes with bloodshot whites must be glaring with pure malice, watching every move intently.

They could jump in during the duel, so I’ve been on edge the whole time.

But there’s only so long I can dodge this.

In reality, the more Life and Death Matches happen, the more Qing finds herself at a disadvantage.

Qing’s enemies have their eyes trained on her.

What methods does she use?

What are her favored moves when evading, which directions does she prefer, what habits does she have, and how many hidden skills remain undisclosed?

All the angry folks are out and about.

The ones who remain are analyzing every detail, aiming to seize the winning moment; the more battles occur, the more Qing gets read like an open book.

So, in a way, Qing is cornering herself into an extreme.

In other words, she must repay them!

The Warriors in the Supreme Martial Artist and the Realm of Transformation are vastly different from the gigantic barrier Qing has envisioned.

Dare you try to analyze the Supreme Martial Artist, the transcendent Supreme Martial Artist, or the ultimate Supreme Qing?

Go ahead, have at it.

In the end, once you enter the Realm of Transformation, it’s all useless; the information becomes pointless toil.

So, she must enter that realm quickly.

Ah, if only there were a way to let out a sneeze just enough to reach that level, it seems like something pivotal is missing.

It’s like craving some food.

Something suitably salty? Richly melting in your mouth? Sweet enough to keep you from getting tired of it? So spicy and rich you’d let out a huge yell of pleasure?

Yet it all feels so infuriatingly elusive when you can’t even remember what kind of food it is.

So here she is, sampling all sorts of things.

But that’s just the brutal reality of Life and Death Matches.

Therefore, for now, it’s about doing what she can.

Covered in blood, Qing is quietly seated in front of the pavilion, retracing the battles she has fought.

This time, her whole setup with the net was problematic.

How did she fail to dodge?

Well, it led to the trajectory of Nengpa Mibo being read perfectly.

The net was spread right where she planned to escape—she literally jumped into a trap.

How would anyone know where I would show up?

Some unknown experiences or sensations have been knocked into her brain and body through various methods.

But to step on the Eight Trigrams and twist the world into formations, her sight overlapping and expanding, Qing herself felt disoriented and utterly tangled.

Did any experts exist in formations?

To those watching Qing step on Nengpa Mibo, she appeared to fly and scatter in a dazzling display with her eight clones, but she had no way of knowing how she looked at that moment.

Hmm, I honestly don’t know.

I only know that it’s not an invincible escape.

Why, even back in my hometown, when playing arcade games, I’d anticipate that blink teleportation skill.

Having shown it so many times, anyone would have thrown nets all over the damn place, guessing where I might pop up.

The moment the myth of Nengpa Mibo’s invincibility shattered.

Wait, it was renowned for being the ultimate unsolvable technique, right?

If it can be discerned by some random Sapa riffraff, is that really a divine skill?

Shouldn’t I be tearing off the purple borders?

If anyone overheard this, they’d surely lose it.

A pig-like girl, fussy for nothing but greed; where in this world would you find completely flawless martial arts?

Those who dare to challenge Nengpa Mibo are all over the place, yet here you are too stuffed to move.

As Qing mumbled, a sudden realization struck.

After all, thinking about it, that failed sect had terrible martial arts.

If Nengpa Mibo were truly invincible, wouldn’t everyone still be alive and kicking? Why did they perish?

If the martial artists of that lost sect in the afterlife heard this, they’d have nothing to say.

The martial arts of the clansmen were all transcendent techniques that surpassed the rules of human existence.

Yet the disciples were just humans, ultimately.

Fighting each other down to the last sibling, they all disappeared.

It would be better to claim their downfall was due to martial arts flaws than admit infighting led them to mutually assured destruction.

So Nengpa Mibo wasn’t godly.

Thank goodness she figured this out while dealing with weaklings. What if a master from the Realm of Transformation anticipated her in a serious battle?

Then what should she do?

At what moment could she use her techniques in a way that would catch the enemy off guard, or in cases where they might expect it, create situations where they could only let her slip away?

Anyway, this Life and Death Match has become an invaluable experience for Qing.

As her foes analyze her, Qing too is in a desperate race to erase her weaknesses.

Thus, this invisible duel of spear and shield ended the way it started, concluding today’s clash.

It seems like things have started to go wrong even in this town.

This doesn’t bode well for Qing.

If things keep escalating too far later, it’ll get tough.

Is there any way to make them engage a bit?

—-

Gangnam!

For people from the Central Plain, Gangnam is a term that combines Suzhou and Hangzhou, and it is widely recognized as the top entertainment district in the Central Plain.

This is an exceptional circumstance for the people of the Central Plain.

Their affection for their hometowns is exceptionally fierce—a violent pride that will often lead to brawls over boasting.

So, for everyone in the Central Plain to agree that Gangnam is the finest entertainment area is a monumental achievement.

Food? Our town has the best.

Scholarship? Literature too is best in our town.

History? Our history is the finest.

Scenery? Our scenery takes the cake.

Geography? Ours is supreme.

Entertainment? Ah, that would be Gangnam.

Yet our town comes just after that!

Such is Gangnam’s grandeur as a recreation district.

Moreover, Gangnam is known as the city of literati.

When one says “literati,” it conjures images of fragrant food and a whiff of paper, yet the literati of Gangnam doesn’t evoke such pleasant thoughts.

They lounge around, drinking heavily, groping courtesans, merely waxing poetic. They cleverly disguise themselves with the title of “literati.”

It’s no wonder the interests of Gangnam’s literati have been, both then and now, primarily in beautiful women.

So their discussions typically revolve around topics like:

Who is the most beautiful in the world?

Who among the beauties is the most stunning of all time?

There’s a newly arrived courtesan named Yeohwa at Wollyu Pavilion, and she has been said to be exceptionally beautiful.

What? Isn’t this the wrong time for such chatter?

Aren’t we the literati of Gangnam?

Let’s bet on who gets to propose first.

The courtesans of Gangnam are also recognized as top-tier, thus, their pride is sky-high.

Even the ladies of the night scrutinize their clientele, displaying such a high standard for their customers.

If courtesans behave this way, imagine how the other women are!

The way to win the affection of these ladies, whether with words or skills, is to take your time and play your cards right, hence the first to flame up a proposal competes as to who wins.

Qing’s hometown residents definitely fit this description—men mad over women.

What then, at present, captures the highest interest of the Gangnam literati?

It’s the beauty currently residing at Suzhou’s Taehwa Sword Gate.

The literati know her as Seolseonnyeo, while martial artists call her Bing Seolhwa, also known as Seoliri.

Seoliri secured her spot at Suzhou’s Taehwa Sword Gate during the prominent literary tour of last autumn.

Her stay was meant to last until winter was over.

But why, even after winter has passed, spring and summer have gone, and autumn is back, does she remain in Suzhou?

Simply put, they spoil her.

Not just any food, but the best food.

On top of that, she receives an allowance and has the best accommodations in a guest hall—perfect for dueling too.

Despite her cold visage, which often makes her seem aloof, what was her true experience?

Even when buying a snack, she pondered over whether to spend her meager savings, hesitating because it was too expensive.

Or wishing for a clean pair of shoes when her own wore out—a forgotten shoe left behind would be a blessing.

So, wouldn’t it be a pity if the Dragon and Phoenix Association didn’t serve delicious food today?

Seoliri was genuinely the epitome of pitifulness.

Therefore, to Seoliri, the Taehwa Sword Gate proved a pleasing place, providing good food and a cozy room, with generous allowances.

When she needed clothes or shoes, they’d promptly be supplied.

Moreover, being part of this sect meant she didn’t owe anyone anything.

So there she was, well-fed, well-cared-for, and in a never-ending cycle of training.

Awake, practicing her Qi, eating, nurturing her energy, and eating again, all while mixing in some training.

In between, she’d munch on the snacks she brought from the dining hall, occasionally indulging and falling asleep, before starting all over again.

Yet even a sharp-edged Seoliri sometimes craved a luxurious meal, yearning for something more than what Taehwa Sword Gate provided.

So she’d secretly slip out of the guest hall and stroll around outside, where acquaintances would rush up with promises of tasty food.

Although she had heard their names, she had no reason to remember them, so they were just acquaintances.

Thus, it was also the case that Taehwa Sword Gate quietly hoped she’d venture home soon.

When the Sapa started showing suspicious movements, having her around helped, but that was only helpful short-term.

The dazzling beauty of the Martial World is only fleeting.

The disciples were doing everything they could to impress her; her training fell by the wayside as their eyes wandered.

Even the Gangnam literati, who should have been in Hangzhou, had settled into Suzhou, leading to rumors that Bing Seolhwa had a weakness for cuisine.

Yet she must continue to receive her allowance.

No, she never spends a dime of her own, eats, sleeps, and dresses without paying, yet what’s she spending her allowance on?

The answer lies in that mere speculation.

Before sleeping, she would open her money bag, gazing at the shimmering gold coins, offering a slight smile—a rare emotional display from Seoliri.

To be precise, it wasn’t the weight of the gold coins but the thought of someone enjoying a good meal that brought her joy, fueling a desire to be the one to treat them next time.

Thus, yet again, she stepped out of the guest hall, longing for something hot and rich to warm her soul.

But then?

“Oh, Lady Seol! Have you heard the news?”

“No.”

“Ah, I haven’t even told you what it is yet.”

“Why should I care?”

“Not that you have to, but—”

“Okay, then.”

A strong chill rushes in.

Naturally, thoughts of wanting her to leave Taehwa Sword Gate start creeping in.

Yet she is not a disciple there.

“No, no, can you hold on for a moment? I’m just wondering if Lady Seomun is a friend of yours.”

At this, Seoliri stands upright.

“Why do you ask about Young Lady Seomun?”

“Oh, you haven’t heard? The news is all the rage here in Suzhou. The Cheonhwa Sword is leading an army this way right now—”

The Taehwa Sword Gate paused mid-sentence.

It was the first time Bing Seolhwa’s faint smile bloomed.

It was indeed a moment that felt like falling in love anew—

“When will they arrive?”

“Huh?”

“When is Young Lady Seomun arriving?”

The Taehwa Sword Gate was about to reply, but wait a second?

She doesn’t care about the army Cheonhwa Sword is leading; she’s only curious about when they’ll be here?

Truthfully, it was the case.

Whether Qing led an army, bandits, or invaders, what did it matter?

They’re heading this way.

“Hmm, I can’t be sure when they’ll arrive. The Cheonhwa Sword’s enemies are following behind to settle old scores, so… Lady Seol! Where are you going?”

Before the words even finished, Seoliri dashed out, disappearing in a flash.

Left alone, the Taehwa Sword Gate pondered, what was that? Did she really smile? Wait, was that a real smile?

Scratching his head, the Taehwa Sword Gate thought, at least he got to witness something spectacular.

It was an exquisite moment that would be etched in his mind for life.

Thus, he turned back toward the disciples’ quarters.

Just as he rounded the corner—

“Where is she now?”

Suddenly, Bing Seolhwa reappeared.

Carrying a large backpack wrapped in a thin blanket.

“Whoa, Lady Seol? What’s up all of a sudden?”

“Where is Young Lady Seomun?”

“Uh, she’s said to be tackling Yubang, Lingqi, Huaiyin, and Taizhou, so you could retrace those places to catch up with her—”

Before he could even finish, Seoliri leapt over the sword gate’s walls.

Left behind, Taehwa Sword Gate scratched his head.

What just happened?

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