Qing, lying flat under the women, quietly contemplates the absurdity below.
Is she not even embarrassed to make sounds like “Kyaaooh”? I could overlook the growling like “Grrr,” but “Uroong” and “Awoo,” come on! Is she in her right mind?
If she were, she wouldn’t be prancing around on all fours with a collar on.
Qing has enough leisure to ponder such thoughts.
In fact, it’s surprisingly comfortable.
That mere pressure from a dozen women can’t breach the body of the strongest in the Central Plain (unofficially).
Even if these beastly women claw with their hands, in reality, they’re just tugging on her clothes made of 천잠사 fabric, stretching it.
So, pretending to be subdued, Qing takes a moment to breathe and scan her surroundings.
Pretending to be restrained, she listens intently.
– Did they take care of it?
– What kind of low-life barks like a dog? Hey, forget about the spirit; bring over the net—or no, the iron chain first. What kind of power do they think they have, like a bull or something?
– Hehe, is it a cow then?
– Are you joking right now? How many have died? Ugh, just restrain them properly. The Sect Leader will interrogate them personally. What the hell? Can’t you all just scram? It’s an event of the Blood Demon Sect, quit gawking and go get some sleep!
Can the people of the Central Plain miss a good fight?
A furious voice chases away the spectators with threats.
But the Blood Demon Sect? That name sounds familiar.
With the knowledge instilled by Seomun Sulin, Qing had at least skimmed through the name of the great Sapa once or twice, so it seems Blood Sect is quite a big deal.
Of course, those Blood Sect scoundrels wouldn’t dare call themselves the royal faction or openly act like the Blood Sect’s Siksim Sect.
Looking back, it’s quite an ingenious disguise.
With the behavior of both the Sapa and the Blood Sect being indistinguishable, it’s hard to tell them apart.
In any case, since they only engage in wickedness and wrongdoing, whether harmful or just harmful is the only distinction.
Thinking about it, how many members of the Blood Sect would be mixed among the Sapa? In any case, the Sapa does nothing to contribute to the world. They should just be wiped out completely.
At that moment.
– Wait! Stop right there!
– Who goes there? Reveal your identity! If you dare to interfere with the Blood Demon Sect’s event, you’ll pay the price!
– Ahem, you insolent brat. I am Je-gal Chaewoon-sok, Elder of the Sado Sect and the Justice Execution Council.
– Yangyang Twin Fists!
I’ve always felt that the Sado Sect folks are extremely fixated on sounding impressive with their terminology.
The long name of the Sado Sect, and it seems like the Sado Ten Great Stars are just changing their title around.
And what kind of council is that, and why Elder?
Of course, Qing understands.
Losers are always obsessed with their titles.
– Ahem, I apologize for the rudeness. But this woman—no, this person—is a criminal who has killed our sect’s disciple for no reason, so the Blood Demon Sect wishes to collect her blood debt.
– The Cheonhwa-geom belongs to a wicked user of Demonic Arts. I feel sorry for you, but wouldn’t you give way for a greater good? I promise that once the interrogation of the criminal concludes, she will be sent to my Blood Demon Sect.
– That requires the Sect Leader’s approval. We merely follow orders.
– Oh, come on. We’re all one family in the Sado Sect, aren’t we? Surely the Blood Sect leader wouldn’t mind if we temporarily handed over this criminal since we’re like family, right?
Calling them family is absurd; they don’t even realize they’re dealing with Blood Sect scoundrels. It’s truly unfortunate.
It seems even the Sado Sect is coveting Demonic Arts.
The Blood Sect certainly wouldn’t comply, so for a while, they’ll argue back and forth.
In this moment, Qing quickly opens her Martial Arts Inventory.
She needs to figure out what this chaotic True Energy is.
She sees the Heart Consumption Technique’s ten forms, surrounded by a red border. They say it’s the Ten Great Demonic Arts, but it’s only red? How did it just barge in here uninvited?
But on second thought, it might not be a total loss.
After all, it’s been paid for with her money—no, her training points—so it’s practically a bonus.
Before Qing could remove the Martial Arts Inventory, she quickly raises the Heart Consumption Technique from the first to the twelfth form in one go.
Oh dear, next time I might really end up dead.
And then there are the two that catch her attention, the Escape from Life’s Heart and the Escape from Life’s Dao, a pair of martial arts.
One is golden, the other red; she can’t delve into her brain right now, so she leaves them be. But is the latter demonic art or not?
The Escape from Life’s Dao, a blade that takes lives, sounds precisely like a demonic art, but what about the Escape from Life’s Heart? A righteous mind that takes lives? Hmm, I should ask my master.
Oh right, there’s Je-gal too.
Ah, I should’ve asked earlier. I was just messing around without asking such crucial things.
Blaming her own laziness, Qing again focuses on the happenings outside.
– Do you truly intend to go against the Sado Sect’s will? Even if you’ve been expanding your power lately, do you think you can abandon the Sado Sect?
– Even if you say that, I don’t have the authority. I’m merely here to capture the sect’s criminal.
– Are you for real? Do you think a small sect like yours can stand against the great Sado Sect?
Before she knew it, Chaewoon-sok was condescendingly looking down now.
Qing’s eyes shine. If left unchecked, wouldn’t this escalate to a fight between the Blood Sect and the Sapa?
But the anticipation lasts only a moment.
– Ahem. If that’s the case, then our Law Enforcement Team should accompany the Cheonhwa-geom. I need to discuss this directly with my sect leader. Ugh. Tch.
When faced with a dispute, these guys immediately want to draw swords; what kind of conclusion is that? Just drop it, drop it! They only act tough against the weak.
“Wait a minute!!”
Qing’s voice rings out clearly amid a throng of women.
Then the wave of women stirs restlessly, and suddenly, she stands, flinging those women with collars in all directions.
With this impressive entrance, even the Blood Sect folks and the warrior onlookers from the Sapa and Hangzhou watch with bulging eyes in astonishment.
“Wait! Everyone! Don’t be fooled. These people are not from the Blood Demon Sect; they’re scoundrels of the Blood Sect, members of the Siksim Sect under the Demonic Arts!”
Surprised expressions shift to further surprise, some even facepalming while teetering, and others grasping their heads, raising their elbows in dismay. Truly an unimaginable identity!
“What, what!? Do you have evidence, evidence!?”
“These women acting like beasts are the evidence! They’re Blood Ghouls, monsters that crave human hearts! Just looking at them, don’t you see they’re not normal beings!?”
But the crowd’s expressions seem far from convinced.
Chaewoon-sok, the elite combatant of the Sado Sect’s Law Enforcement, simply huffs and coughs.
“It seems there’s been a misunderstanding. Although the Blood Demon Sect is despicable, their Beast Warriors are merely martial artists who have mastered a form of martial skill.”
“Eh? Beast Warriors?”
In full form, it becomes Beast Young Ladies.
With that bizarre name, Qing frowns, but then Chaewoon-sok, belonging to the Sado Sect, adds a word of protection for the Blood Demon Sect.
“It has already been verified by the Sado Sect; do not dare speak the name of the Blood Sect lightly.”
“But just look at them. Is there any sane woman who wears a collar and barks like a beast, running at people with bared teeth?”
Qing protests, but the atmosphere seems far from receptive.
Why? Is that considered normal? Frustrated, Qing feels like hitting her chest, only to be reminded of the aching wound and hold back—
“Your words are excessive. No matter how infamous the Cheonhwa-geom and her beauty may be, isn’t that too much?”
“It’s truly unfair to treat someone who has merely mastered a technique as a monster!”
Voices sharp with a mix of tears.
Qing looks around and notices women, now standing on two feet, glaring at her.
“Wait, they can stand on two feet. Wait, they could talk too?!”
Qing is flabbergasted.
Were they just perfectly mimicking a beast’s sound all along while being completely sane?
And at the same time, it dawns on her.
No matter how cruel the Blood Sect is, they wouldn’t just flaunt Blood Ghouls out in the open, especially illuminated in broad daylight—a busy night with so many eyes around.
Those beastly women, under public scrutiny, must be confidently parading around.
“But…! These bastards, they’re from the Blood Sect, urgh.”
Qing feels wronged. Deeply wronged.
Just as her enemies must have felt utterly stunned and speechless at her witty retorts countless times, Qing too is left utterly dumbfounded.
No, they are genuine Blood Sect scoundrels!
Why won’t people believe her? Why are they giving her glances that say, “maybe she’s something else,” while clicking their tongues and shaking their heads?
Qing’s fists tremble.
At this point, arguing is pointless.
She needs to evade this situation first, just dodge the peril. Seriously, Blood Sect scum, just wait for my revenge later! Calm down.
But wait, they are Blood Sect, right? Why can’t these people see through it? They truly need their eyes plucked out!
Taking a long, deep breath in frustration, Qing steadies herself.
Hmph. Do they think I’ll back down?
“Ahem. Regardless, everyone, I have already revealed that the Heart Consumption Technique is part of the Blood Sect’s wicked schemes.”
“Other than your testimony, Cheonhwa-geom, there isn’t any evidence at all, so the Sado Sect has concluded that it cannot trust you. If you feel wronged, perhaps you should go to the Sado Sect and clarify it?”
This was a fallacious argument that made the veins bulge in the foreheads of those martial artists probing for Demonic Arts.
What right does the Sado Sect have to judge anything? It’s simply a plea for the Demonic Arts they covet!
It’s like they have come all the way to Hangzhou just to wait for Qing to serve them like an uncouth interloper.
Qing responds.
“Understood. Since the young lady belongs to the Zhengdao Martial Alliance, even if I prove my innocence through the Martial Alliance, wouldn’t it simply be covering for my own side? I assume some may doubt that. But if the great heroes of the Sado Sect judge whether I possess demonic arts, the public would surely be convinced, right?”
She’s suggesting she’ll accept the Sado Sect’s investigation.
The one who seemed most shocked by this was none other than Chaewoon-sok himself.
He was so stunned, he asked back.
“Hmm? What? Are you being serious?”
“Of course. The great heroes of the Sado Sect only wish to investigate, and since I do not possess any demonic arts, is there any reason for me to refuse?”
“Uh, right. Yes. That’s it.”
Chaewoon-sok, his expression tart, nods in agreement.
“Wait! Cheonhwa-geom! Where are you going?!”
A Blood Demon Sect warrior shouts.
Qing doesn’t stop, merely glances back casually.
Isn’t it much better to lean towards the Sado Sect than the Blood Sect?
At least the Sado Sect pretends to hide their true colors when in public, so there isn’t immediate danger.
“I’m going to be investigated by the Sado Sect. Is there something you want to say?”
“Not that, not that!”
“Why not?”
The Blood Sect member is flustered.
Isn’t this how it’s supposed to go? You should let the Cheonhwa-geom go! But how to manage this situation?
“What’s this? Well, we need to receive blood compensation! Do you dare to touch the Blood Demon Sect and plan to leave unscathed?!”
“You folks struck first, so I merely defended myself. How can you call this a blood debt?”
“Don’t make me laugh! You first attacked with the Blood Sect’s false accusations—”
“Oh. That can be determined by the Sado Sect upon their investigation, don’t you think, Elder?”
Qing grins at Chaewoon-sok.
For a moment, Chaewoon-sok, the Law Enforcement Elder, is taken aback but soon gathers his thoughts and responds accordingly.
“Um, yes, that’s correct. Though I’m not oblivious to the Blood Demon Sect’s position, I will ensure the truth is revealed through a fair investigation—”
“Big trouble, big trouble! The young lady, the young lady…!”
An interruption comes as a Blood Sect member, who entered the tavern to check on the young lady, rushes in with a pale face.
Following him, the representative of the Blood Sect looks just as pale, the loss of color evident on his face.
Indeed, the young lady must have been found, wriggling like a bug, fully cooked.
Am I really supposed to leave her like this? My enemy just abandoned me? That Mahee must have a notorious father.
If I leave now, would that father just understand and let it slide?
Qing smirks, one corner of her mouth lifting.
So, what will you do now?