Chapter 62

A sorrowful sound leaked from Qing’s Magic Flute.

It contained a touching narrative that could be heard without tears.

Some time ago.

Seomun Sulin returned the Magic Flute and said,

“This master is already old, so there’s no need for a new flute when you have a cherished friend already worn by my touch.”

Qing, however, was desperately trying to convince her.

“Master, this is a rare treasure worth ten thousand gold! It’s a free benefit just for you! A gift from your disciple’s warm heart!”

Seomun Sulin, ready to deliver a smack, hesitated.

The Magic Flute was a non-quantifiable treasure, one without a price tag.

Still, if it had to be priced, it would be around ten thousand gold.

Anything below ten thousand gold wouldn’t suit the title of treasure.

Anything above ten thousand gold would mean you’d have enough money not to work for generations.

So really, ten thousand gold and twenty thousand gold made little difference.

What surprised Seomun Sulin was that Qing actually understood the value of the Magic Flute.

She thought Qing just didn’t know.

But there Qing was, offering it without hesitation as a gift for her master while knowing its worth.

The old man’s heart was stirred with deep emotion.

Yes, the kid really is kind.

Even born with Heaven’s Kill, she’s such a good girl.

Just a bit naïve…

No, there’s a limit to naïveté, isn’t there?

Even plain water wouldn’t be this bland, would it?

Yet, gratitude is still gratitude.

The disciple’s heart truly is admirable, and it brought joy and beauty.

Seomun Sulin smiled warmly.

“I’ll accept your sentiment, so you’re free to use it.”

“But, I don’t even know how to play it.”

“Isn’t it expected that a woman should at least be able to do one of the Four Arts?”

The Four Arts referred to music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

It was the highest hobby in the Central Plain.

It wasn’t just a hobby.

In modern terms, it was like yachting, horseback riding, golf, and clay shooting.

Enjoying such hobbies made a person appear dignified and sophisticated.

In the Central Plain, the Four Arts were like that.

“With a good flute and music to soothe the heart, it’s a tool for calming your spirit. It’ll greatly help in soothing your temperament too.”

Thus, along with her training, playing the flute became a minor subject.

So, all winter long, although it was freezing, she blew that flute like crazy.

Naturally, the tunes were so melancholic that it brought tears to her eyes.

But? Once she started playing, she really could blow!

No, it wasn’t just blowing; it was on a level where melodies that didn’t exist in the world came out freely.

The unexpected result almost had her exclaiming in admiration.

“Truly a talent that could write history, surely! I never knew my disciple had this kind of ability!”

Then Qing, trying to smile shyly, was trembling from the cold, perhaps hoping for a blanket from Seomun Sulin.

Of course, nothing came back.

It must be noted that this talent was simply her plagiarism.

Anyone from modern times would recognize the melodies.

Unless excessively biased, it would irresistibly shatter the basic musical forms that transcended time in the ears of the people of the Central Plain.

Among them, the Divine Maiden Sect had singled out two top melodies.

The Cannon Variations and the Carousel.

Of course, she couldn’t understand how a brutal name like the cannon was attached to such uplifting songs.

And she couldn’t make heads or tails of how the enchanting melody invoking the beauty of past life had anything to do with a revolving carousel.

But who cares. The tunes were good.

For Qing, it was a long-lost memory that suddenly brought forth nostalgia from her hometown.

Her previous life wasn’t particularly outstanding, but it was enough for her to live contentedly alone.

Still, those times were better than this unbearably cold and humiliating situation.

So, the sound of the flute was nothing but a memory that shouldn’t exist.

—-

The Martial Alliance headquarters was thrown into chaos.

It was due to a newly confirmed report.

The incident stemmed from a complaint from the Zhang River Waterway.

The Martial Alliance’s solitary patrol was suspected to be part of a hidden force called the “Shadow,” known for vile practices in Blood Beast City.

Even the son of the waterway lord lost his life.

The Martial Alliance immediately sent warriors under the auspices of the Pearl’s oath to determine the truth.

The outcome returned to the once-thriving Pearl estate.

Surprisingly, homes are assets that require constant maintenance and care.

Like Qing’s humble abode, if there isn’t someone to diligently clean and wait for someone, no matter how grand the house, it quickly becomes a ruin.

So when the investigation team crashed into the Pearl estate, all they found was a derelict building with no signs of life.

What was astonishing was the testimony of the townspeople.

They claimed to have seen countless noble families visiting the Pearl estate just seven days ago.

This corroborated the testimony of the Zhang River Waterway that Unyeonjeong had massacred the families and turned them all into Jiangshi.

Initially, no one lived at the Pearl estate.

The Cannibal Demon and the strongest Jiangshi sorcerer were part of a cunning force, skillfully hiding from the Martial Alliance.

The Martial Alliance had to prepare a countermeasure.

—-

In reality, when Seomun Sulin told Qing to undress, it was meant as punishment, not training.

A complacent, foolish disciple who had even learned Demonic Arts, endangering her master and clansmen, was nothing but a decidedly ungrateful act.

Thus, it was the strongest punishment.

But?

Normally, she should’ve been crying and begging not to be punished, admitting her mistakes.

That would’ve been expected, even among women.

It would have been particularly embarrassing to be seen naked by a disciple of lower standing.

If it were Seomun Sulin, she would’ve bitten her tongue before letting that happen.

Or she would have rather destroyed her Dantian and cut off her tendons before bolting out, disgusted and ashamed.

But? What was the situation with the disciple?

Goodness! How could she be devoid of even shame?

She felt a bit bashful, but that was it.

The cold mattered more than any shyness.

That made Seomun Sulin feel the most alarming sense of crisis from her disciple than ever.

As a woman, she shouldn’t be unaware of her own shame.

There are things more valuable than life itself.

So she confiscated her underwear and blankets, even ripping the windows and doors off her humble abode.

It was to force the disciple to realize how embarrassing and shameful she looked.

Yet all she did was shiver, completely oblivious to her shame.

Seomun Sulin couldn’t help but leave her be.

And in case she might freeze to death at night, she secretly checked on her.

But oh my!

Could it be that her instinct for self-preservation instinctively activated?

The self-defense technique spoken of was a way to protect one’s body.

Each night, as she fell asleep, Qing instinctively surrounded herself with a protective aura.

In fact, what was considered the highest technique for self-defense was this kind of unconscious practice.

It’s true self-defense if it arises without conscious thought in dangerous situations!

However, in reality, even highly skilled masters at the supreme level would exert their True Energy in conscious action during intense battles.

Self-defense working as naturally as breathing was a realm only achievable in the mid stages of transformation.

That’s why when the enemy reaches the mid transformation stage, it’s impossible to gain the upper hand through a surprise attack.

Seomun Sulin reconsidered her thoughts.

A disciple who didn’t know shame.

What if this was the moment that self-defense could become a second nature skill?

She wouldn’t lose her life in the Martial World. It would be like always having an armor to shield her.

Surely, there are things more precious than life.

But still, Seomun Sulin hoped for her disciple to live and breathe.

She couldn’t afford to blame Yang Sowol, that spoiled runaway disciple, for her child’s fate.

Even if it might leave a scar for life, a mother’s heart that wanted her child to live surely felt this way.

If only those memories could remain as suffering due to ignorance forever.

‘I’m sorry for being a selfish and wicked master.’

It was abuse.

What kind of master would let their disciple live like this?

Even later, when she received scorn and was seen as an enemy, she would have no excuse.

But even if the disciple raised a sword against her, she couldn’t let this opportunity slip.

She was meant to return to the Martial World.

It was a decision one would surely point fingers at if outsiders knew.

Seomun Sulin had resolved to bear it all.

Of course, if Qing found out, she would complain that she was worrying needlessly.

But then, she’d be justified in saying it’d be fine to be cold only while sleeping, not running around all day without clothes.

Nevertheless, it was a significant resolution for Seomun Sulin.

—-

For that reason.

The maidens of the Divine Maiden Sect prospered.

Despite Qing suffering from penetrating cold, the winter of the Divine Maiden Sect felt unusually warm.

It could have been called Hwasan Peak instead of Divine Maiden Peak.

Of course, it was due to the youngest master of the sect, who wore absurdly tacky clothes.

Whether to classify the thin fabric barely covering her showing everything as clothing was still debatable.

In front of a lover, such attire was beyond shame.

Indeed, even a noble lady famed for her beauty wouldn’t dare dress like this in the Martial World.

However, despite her outfit, Qing was shriveling in the cold, trembling badly.

She looked utterly miserable.

That misery concealed her indecency and bloomed into a beauty marked by pity.

Then, as she played the flute, it was as if she hadn’t trembled at all—

Of course, playing the flute brought forth her True Energy, keeping her warm in the process.

–A beautiful figure descended, playing beautiful melodies with a sorrowful gaze tinged with longing.

The charm of music originally lies in creating an atmosphere that cannot be found elsewhere.

The oddly garish outfit instead summoned sensations that did not exist in this world.

Elegant yet sultry! Calm yet enticing!

The embodiment of romantic entanglements!

Simply too erotic! In any case, way too erotic!

CompletelyMarraPaphiass!

Marra Paphiass is the highest demonic deity in Buddhism.

Surprisingly, there are points where world mythology overlaps, as it plays roles akin to Lucifer in the Bible.

Marra is the deity governing desires and symbolizes affliction, or could mean affliction itself.

The “ma” in the term Demonic Arts refers to Marra.

It’s more famous for the tale of seducing a meditating Buddha and being turned down.

Anyway, whether elegant or calm, the outcome remained the same.

Just seeing her made one’s body resonate with heat, igniting a fiery energy from behind the Dantian.

So in this cold season.

Everyone, hand in hand, stuck to one another more than they ever had.

Even breaking through strict hierarchies, there were a few pairs of masters and disciples that ended up sharing a bed.

It was winter.

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